By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The second evacuation flight conveying Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning with 269 returnees, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the Air Peace-operated flight landed at 10:48 a.m., bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated under the ongoing exercise to 335. This includes 66 returnees who arrived on June 24 aboard a South African Airways flight facilitated by a Nigerian benefactor.
The ministry said the 269 returnees, who were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, were received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.
Ali-Gombe conveyed the goodwill and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and security of Nigerians living abroad.
The ministry noted that with the June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa, the evacuation exercise remains ongoing, with additional flights expected in the coming days to bring home all Nigerians who have been screened and cleared for voluntary return.
It also assured that the Federal Government would continue engaging South African authorities at the highest diplomatic levels to ensure the protection and welfare of Nigerians residing in the country.
