The Federal Government has evacuated another 271 Nigerians from South Africa under its ongoing voluntary repatriation programme, bringing the total number of citizens returned home to 533 following renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-immigration protests in parts of the southern African nation.
The latest batch of returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace Boeing 777-200 aircraft specially deployed for the humanitarian mission.
The operation marks the second major evacuation flight organised under the Federal Government’s emergency response initiative aimed at assisting Nigerians who voluntarily requested to return home after expressing concerns about their safety and security in South Africa.
With Tuesday’s evacuation, the total number of Nigerians repatriated under the programme has risen to 533. The latest group of 271 evacuees joins the first batch of 262 citizens who arrived in Nigeria on June 11 as part of the same humanitarian exercise.
The evacuation programme was launched after hundreds of Nigerians residing in South Africa appealed to the Federal Government for assistance following renewed anti-immigration demonstrations and reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals in some communities.
The fresh wave of tension has revived longstanding concerns about the safety of African migrants living in South Africa, where sporadic outbreaks of xenophobic violence over the years have resulted in deaths, injuries, displacement and the destruction of businesses owned by foreign nationals.
Although South African authorities have repeatedly pledged to protect all residents irrespective of nationality, many Nigerians affected by the recent unrest opted to participate in the voluntary repatriation programme facilitated by the Federal Government.
The emergency operation is being coordinated through a partnership involving relevant Nigerian government agencies and Air Peace, the country’s largest airline, which has continued to provide aircraft and operational support for the evacuation missions.
Commenting on Tuesday’s successful operation, the spokesman for Air Peace, Mr. Efe Osifo-Whiskey, described the exercise as another demonstration of the value of collaboration between the government and the private sector in protecting the welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad.
According to him, the successful evacuation reflects the shared commitment of both the Federal Government and Air Peace to ensuring that Nigerians facing difficult circumstances overseas receive timely assistance.
“Today’s successful evacuation once again reflects the power of public-private collaboration in safeguarding Nigerian lives,” Osifo-Whiskey said.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians living outside the country and for approving measures aimed at ensuring their safe return.
The Air Peace spokesman also praised the airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose commitment to humanitarian causes, he said, continues to position the airline as a dependable national asset during emergencies.
“We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians abroad and appreciate our Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose enduring patriotism and humanitarian convictions continue to position Air Peace as a dependable national asset in times of need,” he stated.
According to Osifo-Whiskey, the latest evacuation further demonstrates Air Peace’s operational readiness and its capacity to support national emergency response efforts whenever called upon by the government.
He noted that beyond its commercial operations, the airline has consistently deployed its aircraft to assist during humanitarian crises and emergency evacuations both within Africa and internationally.
Since commencing operations, Air Peace has become widely recognised for its involvement in humanitarian airlift missions, transporting thousands of people away from conflict zones, disaster-affected regions and areas experiencing political instability or security emergencies.
The airline disclosed that it has undertaken more than 16 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and other parts of the world, providing transportation during periods of conflict, civil unrest and other emergency situations.
These operations, the company said, underscore its broader commitment to national service and humanitarian intervention beyond the traditional responsibilities of a commercial airline.
According to Air Peace, its humanitarian philosophy is driven largely by the vision of its founder and chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose emphasis on patriotism, African solidarity and corporate social responsibility continues to shape the airline’s activities.
The airline said it remains committed to supporting government initiatives whenever necessary and will continue to deploy its fleet in service of humanitarian causes whenever the need arises.
“Our humanitarian interventions reflect the vision of our Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose commitment to national service, humanitarian causes and African solidarity continues to shape the airline’s operations beyond commercial aviation,” the company stated.
Air Peace also reaffirmed its readiness to continue partnering with the Federal Government and relevant institutions to facilitate emergency evacuations and ensure the safe movement of Nigerians during periods of crisis.
The airline pledged to remain available for future humanitarian assignments while continuing its core mandate of providing safe and reliable air transport services across Nigeria, Africa and international destinations.
The latest evacuation comes against the backdrop of renewed concerns over the treatment of foreign nationals in South Africa.
Over the years, periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence have strained diplomatic relations between South Africa and several African countries, including Nigeria.
Successive Nigerian governments have repeatedly called on South African authorities to strengthen measures aimed at protecting foreign nationals and prosecuting perpetrators of attacks motivated by xenophobia.
The recent anti-immigration protests in parts of South Africa have again heightened anxiety among migrant communities, with many expressing fears about their safety and the security of their businesses.
For many of the evacuees, Tuesday’s flight represented not only a return home but also relief from the uncertainty created by the deteriorating security situation in some areas where foreign nationals have come under increasing pressure.
Government officials have indicated that the voluntary repatriation programme remains open to Nigerians in South Africa who wish to return home, with additional arrangements expected if circumstances require further evacuations.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the interests of Nigerians wherever they reside and has continued diplomatic engagements with South African authorities aimed at ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens who choose to remain in the country.
With 533 Nigerians successfully evacuated in two separate operations, the humanitarian mission underscores the government’s determination to respond swiftly to the concerns of its citizens abroad while highlighting the critical role of public-private partnerships in delivering timely emergency assistance during periods of crisis.
