FG Plans More Flights As 262 Nigerians Return From South Africa

The federal government has said additional evacuation flights would be arranged for Nigerians affected by the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

This followed the safe return of the first batch of 262 evacuees to Lagos.

The returnees arrived yesterday morning aboard a special Air Peace flight at the International Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

They were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa led by the Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Alexander Ajayi.

Receiving the evacuees on behalf of the federal government, the minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, said the evacuation reflected the administration’s commitment to the welfare and safety of Nigerians living abroad.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria will not stand idly by while our citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment, wherever they may be in the world,” Enikanolaiye said.

He noted that the swift evacuation demonstrated Nigeria’s citizen-centred foreign policy and reassured Nigerians in the diaspora that their welfare remains a top priority.

“The evacuation of our citizens from South Africa underscores the government’s determination to protect Nigerians and uphold their dignity in the face of violence and intolerance,” he added.

The minister commended the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria for coordinating the evacuation exercise and urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to remain law-abiding, vigilant and promptly report any threats or incidents to the Nigerian Mission.

Enikanolaiye also disclosed that the Federal Government is engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels to ensure the safety of Nigerian nationals and address the underlying causes of the attacks.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the evacuation operation was carried out in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and several government agencies, including the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Aviation and Health, as well as the Nigeria Immigration Service and security agencies.

The ministry said the coordinated response highlights the government’s resolve to safeguard Nigerian citizens wherever they reside.

The returnees are currently undergoing documentation, profiling and medical screening procedures, while temporary accommodation and other support services are being provided before they are reunited with their families.

The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to Pretoria, South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu had pushed for the evacuation of Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa since April, but diplomatic considerations delayed the process.

Ajayi spoke on Thursday in Lagos as the first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived aboard a special Air Peace flight.

According to him, the President was deeply concerned about the safety of Nigerians and maintained direct communication with officials handling the crisis from its onset.

“Mr President started this process. Left to him, he would have wanted this to happen in April. That was when Mr President was so agitated and he wanted his people to return to Nigeria,” Ajayi said.

He disclosed that Tinubu established a hotline communication linking the Presidency, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian Mission in South Africa to receive regular updates on developments.

“Every day he was on the phone asking the Minister and us what was happening on the ground and what he could immediately do to intervene. He directed that we must be giving him updates every day, every minute,” the envoy stated.

Ajayi said the President also set up crisis monitoring units in Nigeria’s missions in South Africa to track developments across the country’s nine provinces where attacks and demonstrations were occurring sporadically.

He noted that although Tinubu initially directed that all willing Nigerians be brought home in April, pressure from international stakeholders, including South African authorities, delayed the evacuation.

“Mr President was put under tremendous pressure by world leaders, even by the President of South Africa himself. They asked him to hold action because of the image and optics it would give South Africa. But Mr President was very consistent,” he said.

Quoting the President’s position, Ajayi added: “He said, ‘Any attack on my people in South Africa is an attack on me, and you must bring my people back.’”

The Acting High Commissioner explained that the Federal Government subsequently coordinated with South African authorities, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Home Affairs, immigration officials and security agencies, to facilitate the orderly return of Nigerians wishing to leave.

He said five evacuation flights had been arranged through Air Peace, with the first batch of 258 returnees arriving on Thursday.

“The next batch will be coming on June 15, the third batch on June 18, the fourth batch on June 22, while the fifth and final batch will arrive on June 24. Mr President has directed that all this must happen within the month of June,” he said.

Ajayi also rejected reports that the returnees were undocumented migrants, describing such claims as misleading.

“Many of these people are not undocumented persons. Some became undocumented because of systemic delays in the processing of residence permit renewals by South African authorities. It is false and totally misleading to describe all 258 Nigerians as undocumented,” he said.

Speaking at the reception for the returnees, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, welcomed them back home and acknowledged the trauma many had endured.

“Mr President has asked me to welcome you back home. Home is home,” he said, assuring the returnees that the Federal Government would continue to engage South Africa through diplomatic channels to ensure better treatment of Nigerians living in the country.

Also speaking, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced support measures for the returnees.

She said MTN Nigeria would provide each returnee with N100,000, N15,000 airtime and starter packs, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma had pledged N1 million to each of them.

The evacuation exercise is expected to continue throughout June as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to assist Nigerians seeking to return from South Africa following the recent wave of violence and unrest. welcomed them back home and acknowledged the trauma many had endured.

“Mr President has asked me to welcome you back home. Home is home,” he said, assuring the returnees that the Federal Government would continue to engage South Africa through diplomatic channels to ensure better treatment of Nigerians living in the country.

Also speaking, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, announced support measures for the returnees.

She said MTN Nigeria would provide each returnee with N100,000, N15,000 airtime and starter packs, while Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma had pledged N1 million to each of them.

The evacuation exercise is expected to continue throughout June as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to assist Nigerians seeking to return from South Africa following the recent wave of violence and unrest.