The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has activated its reception and disaster response protocols at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos ahead of the repatriation of a batch of Nigerian migrants being evacuated from the Republic of South Africa.
Deployment of Specialized Response Team
Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar, instructed the immediate deployment of the agency's specialized airport response team to the transit terminal to manage arrival logistics alongside other key state actors and humanitarian stakeholders.
The evacuation exercise, according to NEMA, follows structural coordination between federal authorities and diplomatic missions to secure the safe return of the citizens amidst changing socio-economic conditions in South Africa.
Departure and Arrival Schedule
A statement by the agency's National Spokesman, Ezekiel Manzo, indicates that the first batch of evacuees is slated to depart the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night. The aircraft carrying the citizens is expected to touch down at the cargo terminal of the Lagos airport in the early hours of Thursday, 11 June 2026, where federal emergency officials will commence profiling and biometric documentation.
Integrated Care and Support
The disaster management agency stated that it has established an integrated care structure to provide immediate relief and psychological support to the arriving citizens. “The team will receive the returnees in collaboration with other relevant government agencies and stakeholders,” the agency said.
NEMA further indicated that it is working in tandem with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and refugee agencies to ensure a seamless reintegration phase for the evacuees once preliminary health screenings and immigration clearances are concluded at the tarmac.
