Breaking News: Second Batch Of 319 Nigerians Depart South Africa

According to Punch Metro, the second batch of Nigerians have departed the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, for the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

About 319 persons were evacuated by Air Peace at about 2:58p.m.

An official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebenfa, confirmed this to The PUNCH via a WhatsApp message on Wednesday.

He said, “We wish to inform you that the second batch of about 319 willing Nigerian returnees from South Africa has departed O. R. Tambo International Airport Johannesburg, South Africa, today at 14h58 local time.

“The returnees, who were airlifted by Air Peace Airline are expected to arrive Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, today at about 18h58 local time.”

The first flight had brought back 187 Nigerians out of the 313 scheduled for the evacuation last Wednesday, following the xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in SA.

The Consul-General, Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, Godwin Adama, had disclosed that the number of registered Nigerians had risen to 1,004, adding that the technical issues faced during the first evacuation were being addressed.

The PUNCH had reported that 817 Nigerians were awaiting evacuation.