The Federal Government has evacuated 271 more Nigerians from South Africa aboard an Air Peace flight amid renewed xenophobic tensions.
The Federal Government has evacuated 271 more Nigerians from South Africa as part of its ongoing voluntary repatriation programme following renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-immigration protests in parts of the country.
The evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace Boeing 777-200 aircraft, marking the second major evacuation flight under the government’s humanitarian operation.
The latest operation brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated under the programme to 533, following the return of an initial batch of 262 citizens on June 11.
The evacuation exercise was initiated by the Federal Government after hundreds of Nigerians sought assistance to return home amid growing concerns over their safety following renewed anti-immigration attacks in parts of South Africa.
Commenting on the successful operation, Air Peace spokesman, Mr. Efe Osifo-Whiskey, commended the Federal Government for its swift intervention and praised the leadership of Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema.
“Today’s successful evacuation once again reflects the power of public-private collaboration in safeguarding Nigerian lives. We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians abroad and appreciate our Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose enduring patriotism and humanitarian convictions continue to position Air Peace as a dependable national asset in times of need,” Osifo-Whiskey said.
The airline said the latest operation demonstrated its operational readiness and commitment to supporting national emergency response efforts whenever called upon.
According to Air Peace, it has undertaken more than 16 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and beyond since commencing operations, deploying its fleet during national and continental emergencies to evacuate thousands of people from conflict zones, crisis-hit regions and other emergency situations.
The carrier said the humanitarian interventions reflect the vision of its Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose commitment to national service, humanitarian causes and African solidarity continues to shape the airline’s operations beyond commercial aviation.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government initiatives, connecting people safely across the region and deploying its fleet whenever required in the service of humanity.