The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received the first batch of 258 Nigerian returnees evacuated from South Africa under an ongoing voluntary repatriation programme facilitated by the Federal Government.
The returnees arrived at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday at about 10:35 a.m. aboard an Air Peace flight from O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
The evacuation and reception exercise was jointly coordinated by NEMA in collaboration with key government agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
On arrival, the returnees—comprising men, women and children—underwent profiling, documentation and medical screening as part of standard humanitarian procedures aimed at supporting their reintegration.
A reception exercise held at the airport was attended by senior government officials, including representatives of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, and the Chairman of NiDCOM, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa. Also present was the Director of Search and Rescue at NEMA, Air Commodore Usman Bature, alongside officials of partner agencies.
As part of the coordinated response, NEMA managed logistics for the onward transportation of the returnees to their respective states of origin, while security agencies ensured their orderly movement from the airport.
The agency said the exercise reflects ongoing Federal Government efforts to ensure the safe return, welfare and reintegration of Nigerians facing difficult conditions abroad. It added that additional batches of returnees are expected in the coming days as the evacuation programme continues.
NEMA reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant stakeholders to provide effective humanitarian support and reintegration assistance in line with government policy.
