The Federal Government has announced the arrival of 83 Nigerians repatriated from South Africa following an arrangement facilitated by private individuals.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the returnees were accompanied by two officials of the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg.
It said the repatriation exercise was made possible through the procurement of flight tickets by some “good-spirited private individuals” who sponsored the returnees’ journey to Nigeria.
The returnees were received at the airport by the Director, African Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, on behalf of the Federal Government.
They were subsequently handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling ahead of their reunification with their families.
The ministry reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare and safe return of Nigerians stranded or affected by circumstances abroad.
It also expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, the private sponsors and government agencies involved in facilitating the return and reintegration of the 83 Nigerians.
