The Federal Government has concluded the evacuation of Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with the final repatriation flight bringing 308 returnees back to the country.

The Air Peace flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, bringing the total number of evacuated Nigerians to more than 1,500 under the emergency repatriation programme.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the successful exercise reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the safety and welfare of Nigerians living abroad.

She noted that the President extended the evacuation beyond the June 30 deadline earlier issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa to ensure that all Nigerians willing to return home were safely evacuated.

The minister commended officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and other government agencies for coordinating the exercise and urged the returnees to take advantage of government support programmes to ease their reintegration into society.