The Federal Government on Thursday received no fewer than 270 Nigerian returnees evacuated from South Africa, as concerns mount over rising xenophobic tensions in the country.
The returnees were received in Lagos by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency under the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme.
According to a statement issued by the agency’s Lagos Operations Office, the evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg at about 10:25am.
The Head of Operations, NEMA Lagos Office, Mohammed Olatunde, said the returnees had earlier registered for evacuation and completed necessary documentation and screening processes before departure.
He noted that relevant government agencies and stakeholders were on ground to receive the returnees and facilitate their reintegration into society.
Olatunde added that the Federal Government provided transportation to convey them to their various destinations, while medical teams and ambulance services were deployed to attend to those requiring urgent care.
Findings indicated that the latest batch formed part of about 1,000 Nigerians who had indicated interest in returning home through the Nigerian mission in South Africa.
The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, accompanied the evacuees from Pretoria.
The evacuation exercise followed growing anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa, where unemployment has surged beyond 30 per cent, fuelling hostility towards foreign nationals.
In recent weeks, protest marches have erupted across major cities, with demonstrators demanding the expulsion of undocumented migrants.
Tensions escalated further after a coalition of civic groups issued a controversial ultimatum directing illegal foreigners to leave the country by June 30, a move that triggered panic among affected communities despite being disowned by authorities.
Amid the uncertainty, several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi and Mozambique, have commenced evacuation of their citizens.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government disclosed that the screening of Nigerians willing to return voluntarily has been extended to June 14, 2026, to accommodate more affected persons.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved five evacuation flights to be operated by Air Peace as part of efforts to ensure the safe return of stranded Nigerians.
The returnees were subsequently documented and profiled on arrival before being reunited with their families.
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