Another evacuation flight carrying Nigerians from South Africa is set to touch down in Lagos on Tuesday morning. Authorities say they're stepping up efforts to protect citizens as fears grow over xenophobic violence linked to anti-immigrant protests planned for June 30.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Foreign Affairs Ministry's spokesperson, made the announcement on Monday. He said an Air Peace aircraft had already departed Nigeria that afternoon to collect another batch of stranded citizens.
According to Ebienfa, the plane left Nigeria at 3:00 p.m. on Monday. It was scheduled to arrive in South Africa around 9:00 p.m. local time.
The return journey would begin just after midnight, he noted. Passengers are expected to land at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning.
"Nigeria will resume the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa today," Ebienfa told reporters. He outlined the precise timings for both legs of the operation.
This latest mission is part of a voluntary repatriation scheme President Bola Tinubu approved earlier in June. Over 500 Nigerians in South Africa were screened and registered for the programme.
The federal government had initially approved five Air Peace flights for the exercise. Each one was meant to bring home those who wished to leave.
Two evacuation flights have already been completed successfully. The first arrived in Lagos on June 11, carrying 262 Nigerians home.
A second batch of 66 returnees landed on June 25. Tuesday's arrival will be the third operation under the scheme.
Ebienfa urged Nigerians choosing to stay behind to remain extremely careful. He advised them to steer clear of areas where protesters are gathering.
"Be calm and security-conscious," he said. "Avoid routes and areas dominated by protesters."
Nigerians still in South Africa should keep moving to a minimum, he added. Regular contact with the Nigerian High Commission was also recommended.
The High Commission in Pretoria had already issued its own security warning weeks earlier. Officials there told citizens to avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from protest sites.
Intelligence reports suggested that the June 30 demonstrations could target foreign nationals specifically. Nigerians were told to remain vigilant at all times.
The evacuation programme involves coordination between the federal government, Air Peace, and other relevant agencies. Officials say the system is working smoothly so far.
President Tinubu's administration says it remains committed to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad. The evacuation efforts demonstrate that commitment in action.
