By Taiwo Scholarstica
Another batch of 83 Nigerian nationals has returned home from South Africa as part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to facilitate the safe and orderly return of Nigerians abroad.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, after departing the O. R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, earlier in the day.
The group departed Johannesburg at 3:10 p.m. aboard South African Airways Flight 0060 and arrived in Lagos at about 8:30 p.m.
The returnees comprised 58 adults, 23 children and two infants. They were accompanied on the journey by an official escort from the Nigerian Consulate.
The return exercise was coordinated by the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg and the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, in collaboration with relevant South African authorities.
Officials from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), as well as other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, were on ground to receive and profile the returnees.
The development is part of the continued collaboration between Nigerian authorities and their counterparts in South Africa to ensure that Nigerians returning to the country are properly received and supported.
The returnees expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for its efforts toward protecting the welfare and dignity of Nigerians living outside the country.
They also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what they described as his commitment to ensuring that Nigerian nationals abroad are not left without government support.
“We appreciate the Federal Government for prioritising the welfare and dignity of Nigerians at home and abroad,” the returnees said.
They also expressed gratitude to the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, for her role in ensuring that the interests of Nigerians in the diaspora remain a priority.
According to them, “We are grateful to everyone who contributed to making this return possible and for ensuring that we arrived safely.”
The latest return adds to efforts by Nigerian authorities to provide coordinated assistance to citizens seeking to return home from different parts of the world.
Special appreciation was also extended to the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the various agencies involved in the process.
The agencies were commended for their coordination and commitment to ensuring the smooth completion of the return exercise.
Authorities are expected to continue working with relevant partners to ensure the welfare, profiling and reintegration of returnees as they settle back into the country.