269 Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Amid Xenophobia

On June 24, 2023, a second evacuation flight carrying 269 Nigerians arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 10:48 AM. This flight was part of a broader initiative by the Federal Government of Nigeria to assist its citizens amid rising xenophobia in South Africa.

The flight was facilitated by South African Airways and was received by officials from the Nigerian mission in South Africa, including Haruna Ali Gomb, the Director of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for the ministry, confirmed that an additional 66 Nigerians arrived earlier.

The total number of Nigerians evacuated by June 30 is expected to reach 593, following a previous batch of 258 on June 11. The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerians living abroad and is engaging with South African authorities to protect its citizens.

Approximately 1,000 Nigerians have expressed interest in returning home.