The Federal Government has launched a new operation to repatriate 700 Nigerians stranded in South Africa amidst ongoing xenophobic unrest. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these citizens will return via three scheduled flights. A group of 271 individuals is slated to land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday, July 3, at 5:30 am.
Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that 593 Nigerians have already been brought home. This figure includes 66 passengers whose travel expenses were covered by a private donor. Ebienfa emphasized that the government is fully funding all evacuation flights, explicitly denying rumors that returnees were expected to pay for their seats. He characterized such claims as false information.
The previous evacuation efforts saw 258 people return on June 11, followed by 66 on June 25, and another 269 on June 30. Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has been overseeing the arrival of these citizens and coordinating with government agencies for their processing. Ebienfa noted that logistical hurdles caused some delays, but the government remains dedicated to the safety of its nationals abroad and will continue to provide support during times of crisis.
