The Federal Government has completed the evacuation of Nigerians who were affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, bringing an end to the emergency repatriation exercise.
The last group of 308 returnees landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday aboard an Air Peace aircraft. Their arrival pushed the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to more than 1,500.
Officials said the operation was carried out in response to the wave of violence and hostility that left many Nigerians stranded and fearful for their safety. The evacuation was coordinated through the efforts of the Federal Government in collaboration with relevant agencies and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the successful completion of the exercise as a clear demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to protect Nigerians wherever they may be. She said the administration remains committed to the safety, dignity and welfare of citizens living outside the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also praised officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, as well as other government agencies involved in the operation, for their role in ensuring that the returnees were brought home safely and in an orderly manner.
She urged the returnees to take advantage of the support systems put in place by the government to help them settle back into the country and rebuild their lives. According to her, the authorities are prepared to assist them as they begin the process of reintegration into society.News Update
The Federal Government has completed the evacuation of Nigerians who were affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, bringing an end to the emergency repatriation exercise.
The last group of 308 returnees landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday aboard an Air Peace aircraft. Their arrival pushed the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to more than 1,500.
Officials said the operation was carried out in response to the wave of violence and hostility that left many Nigerians stranded and fearful for their safety. The evacuation was coordinated through the efforts of the Federal Government in collaboration with relevant agencies and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, described the successful completion of the exercise as a clear demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s resolve to protect Nigerians wherever they may be. She said the administration remains committed to the safety, dignity and welfare of citizens living outside the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also praised officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, as well as other government agencies involved in the operation, for their role in ensuring that the returnees were brought home safely and in an orderly manner.
She urged the returnees to take advantage of the support systems put in place by the government to help them settle back into the country and rebuild their lives. According to her, the authorities are prepared to assist them as they begin the process of reintegration into society.
