*FG pledges to continue diplomatic resolution efforts
By Daniel Tyokua
Another batch of repatriated Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, arrived in Nigeria on Tuesday as the Federal Government continued the voluntary evacuation of its citizens.
The flight, carrying 269 returnees, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
It is the second official evacuation flight organised by the Nigerian government, although a separate group of 66 Nigerians also returned on June 24.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the June 24 flight was facilitated by a public-spirited Nigerian.
The Head of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) in Lagos, Dipo Onabowale, identified the benefactor as Kunle Soname, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet.
The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in the country aboard a chartered Air Peace flight on June 11, bringing the total number of Nigerians who have returned from South Africa to 593.
The latest returnees were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and were received at the airport by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Haruna Ali-Gombe, Director of the African Affairs Department.
The evacuation followed rising concerns over threats against undocumented migrants after some South African rights groups reportedly issued a June 30 deadline for them to leave the country.
So far, two official evacuation flights have been conducted by the Federal Government, in addition to the privately sponsored June 24 flight. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had made arrangements and paid for five repatriation flights.
In a statement, Ebienfa said the evacuation exercise was still ongoing and that additional flights were expected in the coming days to bring home all Nigerians who had been screened and cleared for voluntary return.
He added that the Federal Government would continue to engage South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the safety and protection of Nigerian nationals residing in the country.
