Nigeria to Evacuate 271 Citizens from South Africa

The Federal Government of Nigeria will resume the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with 271 Nigerians expected to be airlifted home aboard Air Peace aircraft. This operation is part of ongoing efforts to repatriate Nigerians amid recent anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aircraft is scheduled to depart Nigeria at 3:00 PM on Monday and arrive in South Africa at 9:00 PM local time. The return flight is set to leave South Africa at midnight, with an expected arrival at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

This evacuation marks the latest phase of the federal government's voluntary repatriation program, which was launched in response to xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa. Approximately 1,000 Nigerians have registered for the evacuation exercise, which began earlier this month with the first batch of evacuees flown back to Nigeria on June 11.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the government's commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad and providing consular support during crises.