An additional batch of 271 Nigerians affected by the recent anti-immigration unrest in South Africa is expected to arrive in Lagos as part of the ongoing evacuation exercise coordinated by the Federal Government.
In a statement on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the third evacuation flight was scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Friday.
The ministry said 593 Nigerians had already been evacuated in earlier operations, including 258 who arrived on June 11 and 269 on June 30.
According to the ministry, three additional flights will evacuate about 700 more Nigerians who voluntarily registered, were screened, and were cleared for return.
The ministry also dismissed allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission demanded money from intending evacuees and reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
The evacuation follows renewed anti-illegal immigration protests in parts of South Africa, which have escalated into sporadic violence and attacks on foreign-owned businesses, prompting concerns among several African governments.