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| Nigerian returnees from South Africa |
Another Batch of 271 Evacuated Nigerians Returns From South Africa
Another batch of 271 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, as the Federal Government continues its voluntary repatriation programme for citizens affected by rising anti-immigration tensions in the country.
Naija Brain reports that the returnees arrived aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg, landing at the Lagos airport shortly before 11 a.m. on Monday.
They were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The latest evacuation is part of the Federal Government's ongoing efforts to assist Nigerians who have voluntarily opted to return home amid growing hostility towards undocumented migrants in South Africa.
The exercise comes ahead of a June 30 deadline issued by some anti-immigration groups and vigilante organisations demanding the exit of undocumented migrants from the country.
President Bola Tinubu approved the voluntary evacuation programme earlier this month to facilitate the safe return of Nigerians willing to leave South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said five Air Peace evacuation flights were approved after more than 500 Nigerians were screened for repatriation.
According to the ministry, the flights are intended to ensure the safe evacuation of all registered Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home.
Before the latest flight, 328 Nigerians had returned to the country in two batches. The first evacuation flight, which arrived on June 11, brought back 262 returnees, while another 66 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 25.
The evacuation programme is being coordinated by the Federal Government in collaboration with Air Peace and other relevant agencies.