By Gloria Ikibah
The Federal Government has announced that another batch of 83 Nigerians stranded in South Africa will arrive in Lagos on Wednesday, August 19, as efforts to support citizens affected by rising anti-foreigner sentiments continue.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the returnees will be airlifted from Johannesburg aboard a South African Airways flight scheduled to depart the Oliver Tambo Airport at 3:35pm. local time and arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at approximately 8:45pm. 
In a statement issued on Monday, by the Spokesperson of the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that the latest evacuation exercise was made possible through the intervention of private individuals who volunteered to sponsor the air tickets of the returnees.
“The Ministry wishes to note that this latest cohort of returnees is facilitated through the kind intervention and sponsorship of tickets by public-spirited private individuals, whose generosity the Federal Government acknowledges with profound gratitude,” the statement read.
The ministry explained that the latest evacuation follows the completion of the government’s earlier voluntary repatriation programme, through which nearly 1,490 Nigerians were brought back home amid growing Afrophobic attacks and anti-immigrant sentiments in South Africa.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians living abroad, stressing that the welfare and dignity of citizens remain a top priority under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains unwavering in its commitment to safeguard the welfare and dignity of all Nigerians at home and abroad.
“In line with its Citizen Diplomacy agenda, the government views Nigerians in the diaspora not as a burden, but as critical assets for national development, and is dedicated to ensuring their protection and well-being,” the ministry stated.
The government also praised the philanthropists who contributed to the evacuation exercise, describing their intervention as an example of the collaborative approach needed to address humanitarian and consular challenges.
“The Ministry extends special appreciation to the private individuals and philanthropists who have stepped forward to assist in this humanitarian effort.
“Their action is a sterling example of the ‘whole of society approach’, public-private collaboration championed by the government in addressing challenges facing our citizens abroad,” the statement added.
The ministry further commended the donors for what it described as an act of patriotism and selflessness.
“The Ministry commends their patriotism and selflessness, which have significantly alleviated the plight of our compatriots in South Africa”, it said.
It also appealed to corporate organisations, state governments, members of the organised private sector and Nigerians in the diaspora to support similar initiatives aimed at assisting citizens facing difficulties abroad.
“In light of this, the Ministry calls upon the organised private sector, corporate organisations, state governments and other well-meaning Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to emulate these worthy examples.
“Our collective efforts will bolster our national capacity to respond to consular emergencies effectively,” the statement further noted.
The ministry reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working with South Africa to tackle the root causes of Afrophobia and ensure that acts of discrimination and violence against Nigerians are not only condemned but prevented.
“The government remains committed to deepening strategic partnerships with host nations, including South Africa, to address the root causes of Afrophobia and ensure that such acts of violence and discrimination against Nigerians are prevented and are strongly condemned when they occur, including holding perpetrators of such violence to account”, it added.
