The 258 returnees landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace flight at about 10:25 a.m. on Thursday. They were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa led by the Acting High Commissioner, Temitope Ajayi.
Among those who received the evacuees on arrival was the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, who reassured them of the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they reside.
According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the minister praised the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria for its role in coordinating the evacuation process.
Enikanolaiye also advised Nigerians still residing in South Africa to remain vigilant, obey local laws and promptly report any threats or incidents to the Nigerian Mission.
He noted that the Federal Government remains in constant engagement with South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens and address the underlying causes of the attacks.
The minister further conveyed the goodwill message and assurances of President Bola Tinubu to the returning nationals.
“No Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality. The evacuation does not signal defeat; it underscores the proactive and citizen-centred foreign policy of the Tinubu administration,” the statement read in part. “More flights carrying returnees are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days as the evacuation exercise continues.”
The ministry said the returnees would undergo documentation, profiling and medical screening before being provided temporary accommodation ahead of reunification with their families.
The evacuation follows weeks of anti-foreigner violence in South Africa, where groups reportedly armed with sticks, whips and shields have staged marches in several communities, demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country by June 30.
Reports indicate that many foreign residents have faced intimidation, physical attacks and forced displacement, with some families abandoning their homes amid growing fears over their safety.
Several African countries, including Ghana, Mozambique and Malawi, have already evacuated hundreds of their citizens from South Africa in response to the unrest.
South Africa, regarded as Africa’s largest economy, is home to more than three million foreign nationals, representing slightly over five per cent of the country’s population, according to official statistics.