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The federal ministry of foreign affairs announces that four further repatriation flights are anticipated to return Nigerians who have indicated a desire to depart South Africa due to recent xenophobic violence.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry’s spokesperson, disclosed the plan after the first group of 258 Nigerians arrived at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday morning.
Over 1,000 Nigerians were said to have partaken in the screening exercise.
However, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, said “the figures keep increasing”.
The screening exercise for Nigerian citizens in South Africa began last Thursday and scheduled to conclude on Saturday.
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However, Ebienfa told journalists that the exercise has been extended to Sunday “just to give more Nigerians the opportunity to be screened so that they will take advantage of this flight that Mr. President has graciously paid for to convey them back home”.
The ministry’s spokesperson added that the federal government paid for five flights in total.
“This is the first one, so subsequent flights will be arriving from next week,” he said, noting that the arrival day will be Monday.
He added that the returnees would be temporarily housed in a facility hosted by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) for documentation before being reunited with their families in various states.
Ebienfa stated that Nigeria will continue diplomatic discussions with South Africa to strengthen relations.
