FG Evacuates 593 Nigerians from South Africa, Denies Extortion Claims
The Federal Government has evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa following recent xenophobic protests, with plans to bring home about 700 more citizens in the coming days.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the evacuation exercise underscores the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad and providing assistance to citizens affected by crises.
According to the ministry, the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on June 11 aboard a special flight operated by Air Peace.
The returnees were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government before being handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling.
The ministry explained that logistical challenges delayed the second evacuation flight, resulting in some Nigerians being temporarily accommodated at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, where they were cared for by officials.
It added that a Nigerian philanthropist voluntarily paid the airfare for 66 stranded citizens, enabling them to return to Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight on June 24.
A second government-arranged evacuation flight arrived on June 30 with 269 returnees, bringing the total number of evacuated Nigerians to 593.
The ministry said the evacuation exercise is continuing, with three additional flights scheduled over the next few days to return all Nigerians who voluntarily registered for evacuation and have completed the necessary screening and clearance processes.
It disclosed that about 700 more Nigerians are expected to be repatriated, with the next batch of 271 returnees scheduled to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3.
The ministry also dismissed allegations circulating on social media that officials at the Nigerian mission in South Africa demanded money from citizens seeking evacuation.
It stressed that all special evacuation flights are fully funded by the Federal Government and that no returnee is required to pay for transportation.
“The insinuations and false allegations that some staff of the Nigerian Mission were requesting money before enlisting our nationals for the evacuation flights are totally false, fake news, and should be discarded,” the statement said.
The ministry commended the collaboration among relevant government agencies in executing the evacuation exercise, describing the operation as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens overseas.
It reiterated that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a central pillar of the country’s foreign policy, adding that the government is determined to ensure that citizens affected by crises receive the necessary support, dignity and care.
“The lives of Nigerians living abroad matter, and we are trying our best as a Ministry to give them a sense of belonging,” the statement added.
