The first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks has arrived in Lagos.

A total of 268 returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight arranged by the Federal Government as part of its repatriation efforts.

The evacuation flight, which was initially scheduled to depart on Monday, was delayed until Wednesday due to documentation and processing challenges before eventually taking off.

The repatriation exercise comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa, where reports of xenophobic attacks have prompted many foreign nationals to seek assistance to return to their home countries.

The Federal Government had earlier disclosed that more than 1,000 Nigerians had indicated interest in returning home, with additional evacuation flights expected in the coming days.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, previously revealed that requests for repatriation were increasing steadily.

She said the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had engaged South African authorities to facilitate the safe return of affected citizens, including those with unresolved immigration-related issues.

According to the minister, arrangements were made to ensure that Nigerians facing immigration challenges would be allowed to leave the country through the evacuation programme rather than face detention.

To coordinate the process, the Nigerian Mission in South Africa commenced the screening and documentation of intending returnees.

The exercise, which was initially expected to end over the weekend, was later extended to accommodate the increasing number of applicants.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the extension demonstrated the government’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad.

“This underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the ministry stated.

Officials say the arrival of the first batch marks the beginning of a broader effort to assist Nigerians affected by the unrest and ensure their safe return home.