FedefederaBy Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government has intensified the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, with a second Air Peace flight bringing home 269 returnees ahead of South Africa’s deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.
According to a statement issued by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Tuesday, he said the evacuation flight departed Johannesburg and landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday at 10:48 a.m. 
The latest group adds to the 66 Nigerians who returned on 24 June aboard a South African Airways flight facilitated by a Nigerian benefactor, bringing the total number of evacuees so far to 335.
The Ministry disclosed that the 269 returnees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and were formally received on arrival by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.
During the reception, Ambassador Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill message to the returnees and reassured them of the government’s continued support.
He said: “The heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, are conveyed to the returning nationals, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensure the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country.”
The Ministry noted that the evacuation exercise remains ongoing as the South African government’s 30 June deadline for undocumented migrants takes effect.
It assured that additional evacuation flights have been scheduled to return more Nigerians who have completed the screening process and voluntarily opted to come home.
“With the June 30 deadline on undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa, the Federal Government wishes to reiterate the fact that the evacuation process is still on course and more flights are expected in the country in the next few days to evacuate all Nigerians that have been screened and cleared to voluntarily return to the country”, it read.
The Ministry also reaffirmed Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement with the South African authorities, stressing that efforts would continue to safeguard the welfare and rights of Nigerians still residing in the country.
“Government will continue to engage South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals living in the country”, it added.
The latest evacuation forms part of the Federal Government’s broader response to South Africa’s immigration enforcement measures, with authorities maintaining that all eligible Nigerians who have indicated their willingness to return home will be repatriated in the coming days.
