The Federal Government has announced that another 271 Nigerians stranded in South Africa following recent xenophobic protests are expected to arrive in Lagos on Friday as the ongoing evacuation exercise continues.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, noting that the latest evacuation would move the government closer to completing the voluntary repatriation of affected citizens.
According to the ministry, the third evacuation flight is scheduled to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, carrying 271 returnees.
The ministry said 593 Nigerians have already been successfully evacuated from South Africa through previous operations.
It recalled that the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight and were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, before being handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling.
The ministry explained that logistical difficulties delayed the second evacuation exercise, leaving some registered Nigerians temporarily stranded at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, where they were accommodated and supported by the mission.
It added that a Nigerian philanthropist sponsored the airfare for 66 of the affected citizens, enabling them to return home on June 24, while a further 269 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 30 aboard the second government-arranged flight.
According to the ministry, plans are underway to operate three additional evacuation flights in the coming days to repatriate about 700 more Nigerians who have voluntarily registered, completed screening and received clearance to return home.
The ministry also dismissed allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa demanded money from prospective evacuees, describing the claims as unfounded.
