The Federal Government has urged state governments to support its efforts to evacuate and resettle Nigerians facing danger abroad, stressing that no citizen should be left stranded in an uncertain situation.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the call in a statement shared on her X handle, urging states to help ease the relocation and resettlement of returning indigenes as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy agenda.

Her appeal came as another 83 Nigerians were evacuated from South Africa amid continued xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.

The minister commended the Imo, Abia and Enugu State governments for their interventions and urged other states to follow their example.

“We, therefore, call on State Governments to complement the federal government’s efforts towards ensuring that no citizen at risk abroad is abandoned to an uncertain fate,” she said.

According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the latest evacuation was funded by public-spirited Nigerians and a group of business associates who jointly sponsored the returnees’ air tickets.

She said the returnees departed Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at 3:35 p.m. local time and arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:45 p.m.

The minister added that the same group had committed to sponsoring the evacuation of another batch of Nigerians who no longer feel safe in South Africa and have expressed their desire to return home.

The 83 returnees were from Anambra, Ondo, Imo, Oyo, Enugu, Ogun, Abia, Osun, Delta, Kwara and Ekiti states.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu praised Imo State for commencing the payment of N1 million to each returning indigene, while Abia State had approved N1 million each for 31 verified South Africa returnees of Abia extraction.

She also commended the Enugu State Government for its commitment to assisting in the evacuation of stranded indigenes.

“We urge other state governments to follow suit and complement the federal government’s emergency efforts by coming to the aid of their stranded indigenes and returnees in this time of need,” she added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also appreciated individuals and groups in Nigeria and abroad for their support in assisting Nigerian nationals facing consular challenges and emergencies overseas.

With the latest evacuation, the number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa under the government’s voluntary repatriation programme has risen to 1,573.

The previous 1,490 Nigerians were evacuated during the height of xenophobic protests in South Africa, during which some Nigerian nationals lost their lives while many others suffered property losses.