The Federal Government will on Wednesday complete the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, with 315 citizens scheduled to return to the country aboard the final repatriation flight operated by Air Peace.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the aircraft is expected to leave Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on July 15 and arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 6:30 a.m.
The flight will be the fifth and last in a series of evacuation operations organised by the Federal Government following recent xenophobic attacks and security-related concerns that affected Nigerians living in parts of South Africa.
Since the commencement of the exercise, hundreds of Nigerians have been repatriated through four previous flights as authorities moved to provide safe passage for citizens who expressed a desire to return home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the successful completion of the operation reflects the government’s resolve to safeguard the interests and wellbeing of Nigerians regardless of where they reside.
It also expressed gratitude to Air Peace, relevant government agencies and other stakeholders whose support made the evacuation exercise possible.
The arrival of the final batch of returnees will bring to a close the government’s emergency response to the situation in South Africa, which prompted many Nigerians to seek assistance to return home.
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