First batch of Nigerians fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa to land in Lagos Thursday
A chartered flight carrying the first group of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa is expected to touch down in Lagos on Thursday, as the Nigerian government moves to bring its citizens home following a wave of xenophobic attacks in the country.
The evacuation comes after violent unrest in South Africa targeted foreign nationals, with Nigerians among those caught in the chaos. The Nigerian government responded by organizing the airlift to get affected citizens out safely and back onto home soil.
This is only the first batch, which means more flights and more returnees are likely on the way. How Nigeria receives, supports, and reintegrates these evacuees in the coming days will say a great deal about how seriously the government takes the welfare of its diaspora when things go wrong abroad.
Originally published by BusinessDay.