The Federal Government has evacuated 271 more Nigerians from South Africa under its ongoing voluntary repatriation programme following renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-immigration protests in parts of the country.
The evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace Boeing 777-200 aircraft, marking the second major evacuation flight carried out under the government’s humanitarian initiative.
With the latest evacuation, the total number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa has risen to 533, following the return of an initial batch of 262 citizens on June 11.
The repatriation exercise was launched after hundreds of Nigerians requested government assistance to return home amid growing concerns over their safety as anti-immigration attacks resurfaced in parts of South Africa.
Reacting to the successful operation, Air Peace spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, commended the Federal Government for its swift response and praised the airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema, for his continued commitment to humanitarian service.
He described the evacuation as a demonstration of the effectiveness of public-private collaboration in protecting Nigerian citizens abroad.
“Today’s successful evacuation once again reflects the power of public-private collaboration in safeguarding Nigerian lives. 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,” Osifo-Whiskey said.
Air Peace said the latest mission underscores its operational readiness and commitment to supporting national emergency response efforts whenever called upon.
The airline noted that it has conducted more than 16 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and beyond since it began operations, deploying its aircraft to evacuate thousands of people from conflict zones, crisis-hit regions and other emergency situations.
According to the carrier, the humanitarian interventions reflect the vision of its Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose commitment to national service, humanitarian causes and African solidarity continues to shape the airline’s operations beyond commercial aviation.
Air Peace reaffirmed its readiness to continue supporting government initiatives, providing safe air transport across the region, and deploying its fleet for humanitarian missions whenever required.
