By Oloye Ray
LAGOS – A total of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks arrived in Lagos on Thursday, marking the first batch of citizens repatriated under the Federal Government’s emergency evacuation programme.
The returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight and were received by officials of the Federal Government, led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
The evacuation follows weeks of anti-immigrant protests and attacks in parts of South Africa, which prompted hundreds of Nigerians to seek voluntary repatriation amid concerns over their safety and livelihoods. Government officials have disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians have indicated interest in returning home as the exercise continues.
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In a move aimed at easing the reintegration of the returnees, telecommunications giant reportedly pledged a support package of N100,000 for each evacuee, alongside N50,000 worth of airtime to help them reconnect with relatives and rebuild their lives.
Similarly, Governor Hope Uzodimma announced that indigenes of Imo State among the returnees would receive N1 million each as part of efforts to cushion the economic hardship arising from their abrupt return.
The support initiatives have been widely welcomed by stakeholders, who described them as timely interventions capable of helping the affected Nigerians settle back into society after losing businesses, jobs and sources of income in South Africa.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said arrangements had been made for the documentation, profiling and rehabilitation of the returnees, while the screening exercise for additional Nigerians willing to return from South Africa has been extended to accommodate more applicants.
The latest evacuation operation has reignited concerns over recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa and its impact on African migrants, particularly Nigerians who have frequently been targets of attacks over the years. Observers have called for stronger diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa to address the underlying causes of the tensions and ensure the protection of foreign nationals.
Meanwhile, additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days as the Federal Government continues efforts to bring home Nigerians affected by the unrest.
