The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday night as part of the ongoing evacuation exercise approved by President Bola Tinubu.
The latest group represents the second batch of evacuees from South Africa. The first batch of 258 Nigerians was repatriated on June 11 aboard a chartered Air Peace flight.
Speaking in Lagos, the Head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Dipo Onabowale, said the evacuation was facilitated by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet, Kunle Soname, while officials of the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa accompanied the returnees.
Onabowale, who represented NiDCOM Chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended President Tinubu for approving the evacuation exercise.
“There are 66 people in the second batch. Logistical challenges encountered during the first evacuation exercise are being addressed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
He added that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had assured that all registered Nigerians affected by the attacks would be evacuated.
The evacuation follows recent incidents of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, prompting the Nigerian government to facilitate the voluntary return of its citizens.
The funeral mass for late Nollywood veteran actor, Olu Jacobs, is holding today, Friday, at…
Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who was wounded during an alleged attack by his co-pilot aboard…
The Lagos State Government has taken delivery of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric buses…
Flooding has destroyed houses and farmlands in Pututa and other communities in Lafiagi, Edu Local…
US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face a severe response if investigations…
Two 18-seater buses conveying prospective National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, members from Ibadan to Akwa…