By Favour Ulebor

Eighty-three Nigerians have returned to the country from South Africa following a repatriation exercise facilitated by private individuals.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday night, saying the returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg.

The returnees were accompanied by two officials of the Consulate-General of Nigeria in Johannesburg.

According to the ministry, the flight tickets for the returnees were procured by good-spirited private individuals whose support enabled their safe return to Nigeria.