A fresh batch of 83 Nigerians is expected to arrive in Lagos from South Africa on Wednesday, August 19, as part of a privately sponsored repatriation exercise.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the returnees would arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:45 p.m. aboard South African Airways.
Ebienfa said the exercise was facilitated by private individuals, stressing that it was separate from the Federal Government’s earlier evacuation programme.
The development comes about a month after the government concluded its repatriation exercise from South Africa following reports of increased xenophobic attacks against foreigners.
The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa had previously opened an online registration portal for Nigerians interested in returning home under a proposed second repatriation exercise.
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Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said the mission was compiling the details of Nigerians who registered for the exercise pending the availability of sponsors to fund their return tickets.
The registration portal was initially scheduled to remain open until August 12.
Ebienfa expressed the Federal Government’s appreciation to the private individuals who sponsored the tickets for the 83 Nigerians.
He described the intervention as an example of public-private cooperation in addressing challenges faced by Nigerians abroad.
The ministry also urged corporate organisations, state governments and individuals to support similar initiatives.
The latest repatriation comes amid renewed concerns over the treatment of migrants in South Africa, with the anti-migrant group, March and March, reportedly setting September 30 as a new deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country.
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.