A fresh batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived in Lagos on Tuesday under the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary repatriation programme.

The returnees, estimated at 271, were airlifted by Air Peace and arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport shortly before 11 a.m. The flight departed Johannesburg at about 5 a.m. local time.

Representatives of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) were at the airport to receive the evacuees.

The evacuation forms part of the Federal Government’s efforts to assist Nigerians who have chosen to return home amid growing anti-immigration tensions in South Africa.

The repatriation exercise comes ahead of a June 30 deadline reportedly issued by vigilante groups and other organisations calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country.

More details later…