Xenophobia: First batch of Nigerians arrives from S-Africa tomorrow

By Favour Ulebor

Abuja—The Federal Government has announced that the first batch of Nigerians being evacuated from South Africa, following recent xenophobic attacks, would arrive Lagos tomorrow morning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, yesterday.

According to the ministry, the evacuees will depart the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg this night aboard an Air Peace flight.

The ministry noted that the evacuation operation was being fully funded by the Federal Government, stressing that no affected Nigerian would pay for the trip home.

The statement read: “The first batch of Nigerian nationals that will be evacuated from the Republic of South Africa due to xenophobic attacks will depart the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg Wednesday night, and the expected time of arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos is 5.00am on Thursday morning.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria has fully funded the evacuation exercise; consequently, all affected Nigerians will be repatriated at no cost to them.”

It further assured that adequate arrangements had been made for the reception and reintegration of the returnees upon arrival in Nigeria.

According to the statement, relevant ministries, departments and agencies, MDAs, have been mobilised to provide support for the evacuees.

The ministry said the returnees would undergo documentation and profiling procedures and receive necessary assistance before reuniting with their families.

The government also reassured Nigerians that it remained committed to the welfare and protection of its citizens wherever they resided.

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