The Federal Government on Tuesday received another 269 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, assuring that more returnees would be airlifted home as efforts continue to bring back citizens who opted for voluntary repatriation ahead of the June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement signed by its Spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, saying the second evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 10:48 a.m.

The latest batch brings the number of Nigerians evacuated under the ongoing exercise to 335, following the arrival of 66 returnees on June 24 aboard a South African Airways flight facilitated by a Nigerian philanthropist.

According to the ministry, the 269 evacuees were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and were formally received on arrival by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The reception team was led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe, who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s goodwill message to the returnees.

Ali-Gombe assured them of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians living abroad.

He conveyed the greetings and assurances of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the returnees, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensure the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country.

The ministry said the evacuation exercise remains ongoing despite the expiration of the June 30 deadline issued by South African authorities for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country.

It noted that additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days to bring home all Nigerians who have been screened and cleared for voluntary return.

“The evacuation process is still on course and more flights are expected in the country in the next few days to evacuate all Nigerians that have been screened and cleared to voluntarily return to the country,” the statement said.

The ministry added that the Federal Government would continue diplomatic engagements with South African authorities to safeguard the rights and welfare of Nigerians residing in the country.

It reiterated its commitment to ensuring the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas while facilitating the safe return of those who choose to come back home.