The federal government of Nigeria has announced that an additional evacuation flight will transport citizens back from South Africa this Tuesday. This measure follows persistent concerns regarding the safety of Nigerians living in the region amid potential xenophobic tensions.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that an Air Peace plane left Nigeria on Monday to facilitate the operation. The return flight is set to reach Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning. This initiative is part of an ongoing voluntary repatriation program sanctioned by President Bola Tinubu earlier this month.
The current operation comes as anti-immigrant demonstrations are anticipated to occur on June 30. Nigerian authorities have advised residents remaining in the country to exercise extreme caution, avoid protest zones, and keep in touch with the Nigerian High Commission for guidance. The government previously authorized five flights to assist the more than 500 individuals who registered for the process. To date, 328 citizens have successfully returned home across two previous flights. Officials continue to collaborate with South African security agencies to monitor the environment and protect Nigerian nationals.
