LAGOS, Nigeria — The fourth batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived in Lagos, as the Federal Government continues its voluntary evacuation exercise amid ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.
The returnees touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight, bringing the total number of evacuees to over 1,500 since the evacuation exercise began. The latest batch consists of 274 Nigerians who had registered to return home following weeks of anti-immigrant violence that has claimed lives and destroyed businesses.
The evacuation exercise, coordinated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has been ongoing since June 11, when the first batch of 258 returnees arrived in Lagos. Subsequent batches have continued to arrive as more citizens registered for the voluntary repatriation programme.
The Federal Government has urged South African authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens who choose to remain in the country, while also maintaining its commitment to evacuating those who wish to return. The government has also called for stronger diplomatic measures to address the root causes of the xenophobic attacks.
The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has been working tirelessly to process the evacuation of citizens who have registered to return home, with many seeking refuge at the mission amid fears of further attacks. The mission has been providing temporary shelter, food, and medical care to displaced Nigerians.
The wave of anti-immigrant sentiment has strained South Africa’s diplomatic relations with several African countries, with Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe also initiating repatriation of their citizens. South Africa’s Border Management Authority reported that about 25,000 people had been repatriated in recent weeks, including more than 15,000 Malawians.
The Nigerian government has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad and has pledged to continue to provide consular support to Nigerians affected by the crisis. The government has also urged Nigerians to remain calm and to cooperate with authorities to ensure a smooth evacuation process.
As the evacuation exercise continues, the focus remains on ensuring that all Nigerians who wish to return home are safely evacuated, while diplomatic efforts to address the underlying causes of the xenophobic attacks continue. The Federal Government has also called on the African Union and other regional bodies to intervene and address the growing trend of xenophobic violence across the continent.
