For stories, adverts, & ENQUIRIES, wHATSAPP US @ +2347036240302
The Nigerian government plans to repatriate another 65 citizens from South Africa on Wednesday amid ongoing concerns over xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiment.
The Nigerian government plans to repatriate another 65 citizens from South Africa on Wednesday amid ongoing concerns over xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiment.
NEWS
The Nigerian Record
8/26/20261 min read
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday via its official X handle that the 65 Nigerians, whose return tickets were sponsored by private individuals, will depart Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 3:30 p.m. local time on South African Airways. They are expected to arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 8:45 p.m. the same day.
This follows the repatriation of 83 Nigerians (58 adults and 25 children) on August 19, also on a commercial South African Airways flight. That group underwent biometric clearance supervised by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). It was the first time the government’s voluntary repatriation programme used a commercial flight after seven earlier batches transported on chartered aircraft.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu had earlier confirmed that the tickets for the 83 returnees were jointly sponsored by private individuals and business associates, who also pledged to fund another batch of Nigerians no longer feeling safe in South Africa. The August 19 arrival brought the total number of Nigerians repatriated under the voluntary programme to 1,573.
The programme was launched in response to xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner incidents in which some Nigerians were reportedly killed and others lost property. Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad under President Bola Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy agenda. She urged state governments to support at-risk citizens through evacuation, relocation, and resettlement efforts.
Following the recent return, Imo State began disbursing N1 million each to returning indigenes, Abia State approved N1 million each for 31 verified returnees, and Enugu State committed to assisting stranded indigenes. The minister called on other states to follow suit.