The first batch of Nigerians opting to return home following the latest wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa arrived in Lagos on Thursday, with 268 returnees landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace flight.
The returnees touched down at about 10:30 a.m., marking the beginning of a government-backed repatriation exercise for Nigerians affected by the unrest in South Africa.
The evacuation flight was initially scheduled for Monday but was later shifted to Wednesday due to delays in processing travel documentation.
Authorities say more than 1,000 Nigerians have indicated interest in returning to the country.
Speaking earlier this week, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the number of Nigerians seeking repatriation continued to rise.
“The numbers keep increasing,” she said after Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria secured concessions from South African authorities to facilitate the departure of affected Nigerians.
According to the minister, the mission had “negotiated waivers with host authorities” to ensure that Nigerians with “immigration-related offences” would be allowed to depart on the repatriation flights instead of facing detention.
The repatriation process followed a screening exercise for interested Nigerians, which commenced last Thursday and was initially scheduled to end on Saturday.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced an extension of the screening exercise until Sunday to allow more Nigerians to participate.
The ministry said the decision was taken “to accommodate more persons”.
It added that the move reflected the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians abroad.
“This underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement said.
The ministry further stated that the Federal Government had made arrangements to support the returnees upon arrival in Nigeria.
According to the statement, the government, working through relevant ministries, departments and agencies, has put in place “comprehensive reception, documentation, and support arrangements for the returnees.”
The latest evacuation comes amid growing concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which have prompted hundreds of Nigerians to seek assistance from Nigerian authorities to return home.
