Air Peace Ends South Africa Evacuation Mission, Airlifts 1,393 Nigerians Home in Five Flights
Air Peace has completed the Federal Government’s evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, bringing home the final batch of 308 citizens and concluding a humanitarian operation that saw a total of 1,393 Nigerians repatriated through five special flights.
The airline announced that the last evacuation flight, operated with its Boeing 777-200 aircraft, landed at the Cargo and Hajj Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 11:28 a.m. on Wednesday, officially bringing the emergency airlift to an end.
The evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with Air Peace as part of efforts to ensure the safe return of Nigerians affected by the security situation in South Africa.
Officials of the Federal Government, led by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside senior officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service, were on hand to receive the returnees at the airport.
Welcoming the evacuees, Dabiri-Erewa expressed sympathy for the challenges they encountered while in South Africa and assured them that the Federal Government remained committed to supporting their welfare and reintegration into society.
She also conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message to the returnees, reassuring them that the administration would continue to prioritise the safety and well-being of Nigerians wherever they reside.
The NiDCOM boss praised the cooperation between government agencies and Air Peace in successfully executing the evacuation exercise, describing the operation as a clear demonstration of the value of public-private partnership during national emergencies.
She reserved special commendation for the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, applauding him for consistently making the airline available for national assignments, even when such operations are driven more by humanitarian considerations than commercial interests.
According to Air Peace, the completion of the evacuation exercise represents another significant contribution to Nigeria’s humanitarian response efforts and reinforces the country’s determination to protect its citizens abroad during periods of crisis.
The airline disclosed that its Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft was deployed for all five evacuation missions, transporting 1,393 Nigerians safely back to the country while maintaining high operational, safety and service standards throughout the exercise.
Air Peace noted that the operation went beyond the movement of passengers, saying it reunited families separated by the crisis, restored hope to distressed Nigerians and demonstrated that the nation would always stand by its citizens in difficult times.
The airline also highlighted its growing role in humanitarian operations, stating that it has carried out more than 20 evacuation and relief missions across Africa and other parts of the world since it commenced operations.
These missions, it said, have included emergency repatriation of Nigerians, humanitarian interventions and support for government response efforts during crises, reinforcing its position as a dependable partner in national emergencies.
Air Peace attributed its humanitarian record to the vision of its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema, whose commitment to philanthropy and national service has seen the airline repeatedly deploy its fleet and personnel in support of humanitarian causes.
Reaffirming its commitment to national development, the airline said it would continue to support government-led humanitarian initiatives and remain ready to provide assistance whenever Nigerians require help, whether within Africa or beyond.
