The Federal Government of Nigeria has clarified that it completely financed the evacuation of citizens returning from South Africa. Officials dismissed recent claims suggesting that stranded Nigerians were required to pay for their transport as entirely false and misleading.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, issued by spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, confirmed that 593 individuals have already returned home due to xenophobic unrest. An additional 700 citizens, who have successfully completed the registration and vetting process, are expected to arrive shortly.
The initial group of 258 people landed in Lagos on June 11 via an Air Peace charter. While logistical issues briefly caused delays, forcing some citizens to stay at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the government eventually secured transport for them. Notably, 66 of these individuals had their travel costs covered by a private Nigerian donor, while subsequent government-funded flights on June 30 brought the total count of returnees to 593.
Authorities have scheduled three more flights to bring the remaining citizens home, with 271 people expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport early Friday morning. The Ministry emphasized that its actions reflect a firm dedication to the welfare of Nigerians abroad, noting that protecting its citizens remains a fundamental goal of the country’s foreign policy.
