Adedokun Waliyu 
A new batch of 83 Nigerian nationals will arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday via South African Airways, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the returnees are expected to depart Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg at 3:35 p.m. local time and arrive in Lagos at approximately 8:45 p.m. the same day.
According to the ministry, the latest cohort of returnees is being facilitated through the intervention and sponsorship of air tickets by public-spirited private individuals, whose generosity the Federal Government acknowledged with profound gratitude.
The development follows the earlier conclusion of the government’s voluntary repatriation programme, which saw nearly 1,490 Nigerian citizens repatriated from South Africa amid rising Afrophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.
The ministry said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, remained unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the welfare and dignity of all Nigerians at home and abroad.
“In line with its Citizen Diplomacy agenda, the government views Nigerians in the diaspora not as a burden, but as critical assets for national development, and is dedicated to ensuring their protection and well-being.”
The ministry also extended special appreciation to the private individuals and philanthropists who had stepped forward to assist in the humanitarian effort.
It described their intervention as a sterling example of the “whole of society approach” and the public-private collaboration championed by the government in addressing challenges facing Nigerians abroad.
The ministry commended their patriotism and selflessness, saying their contributions had significantly alleviated the plight of Nigerians in South Africa.
It therefore called on the organised private sector, corporate organisations, state governments and other well-meaning Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to emulate the initiative.
“Our collective efforts will bolster our national capacity to respond to consular emergencies effectively.”
The government said it remained committed to deepening strategic partnerships with host nations, including South Africa, to address the root causes of Afrophobia and ensure that acts of violence and discrimination against Nigerians were prevented and strongly condemned when they occurred.
It added that perpetrators of such violence must be held accountable.
