The Federal Government has repatriated another 66 Nigerians from South Africa as part of ongoing efforts to assist citizens affected by recent xenophobic attacks in the country.
The returnees, who formed the second batch of evacuees, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 8:50 p.m. on Wednesday. Their return is part of an evacuation exercise approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following renewed attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.
The latest evacuation comes after the first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in the country on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
Confirming the development to Vanguard on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, said 66 persons were repatriated in the second phase of the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Lagos Office, Mr Dipo Onabowale, said the evacuation flight was facilitated by the Chairman and CEO of ValueJet, Mr Kunle Soname, while officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the returnees back home.
Speaking on behalf of NiDCOM Chairman Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Onabowale commended President Tinubu for approving the evacuation exercise.
He said challenges encountered during the first phase were being addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has assured that all registered Nigerians willing to return from South Africa will be evacuated.
