BY OLAPEJU OLUBI
Air Peace has concluded the Federal Government’s humanitarian evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, safely returning the final batch of 308 citizens and bringing the total number evacuated to 1,393 across five special flights.
The last evacuation flight, operated with the airline’s Boeing 777-200 aircraft, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 11:28 a.m. on Wednesday, officially ending the evacuation exercise coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with the airline.
The returnees were received by the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside senior immigration officials who welcomed them on behalf of the Federal Government.
Addressing the evacuees, Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged the hardships they experienced during the crisis in South Africa and conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s assurance of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting their reintegration and welfare.
She also praised the collaboration between the government and Air Peace, commending the airline and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, for responding promptly to the national emergency.
According to her, the successful evacuation demonstrates the importance of public-private partnerships in protecting Nigerians living abroad during periods of crisis.
The operation saw Air Peace deploy its Boeing 777-200 aircraft on five dedicated evacuation missions, transporting 1,393 Nigerians back to the country.
The airline said the exercise was more than an airlift operation, noting that it reunited families, restored hope to citizens affected by the crisis and reinforced confidence that Nigerians could depend on their country in difficult times.
With the completion of the South Africa operation, Air Peace said it has further strengthened its record in humanitarian operations.
The airline disclosed that since it commenced operations, it has undertaken more than 20 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and other parts of the world, supporting emergency repatriations and government-led relief efforts.
Air Peace added that the humanitarian interventions reflect the vision of its chairman, Allen Onyema, whose commitment to humanitarian causes has positioned the airline as a dependable partner in national emergency response efforts.
The carrier reaffirmed its commitment to supporting government-led humanitarian initiatives and providing assistance to Nigerians whenever the need arises.
Olapeju is a journalist and aviation reporter.
