The Nigerian government has concluded the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, following a wave of anti-immigrant violence and threats against foreign nationals.
An Air Peace aircraft carrying 308 Nigerian returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday morning. The flight, which departed Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at 6.30 am, South African time, also conveyed three Nigerian government officials who coordinated the evacuation exercise, according to a statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu.
A video shared online by TVC News showed returnees, including men, women and children, disembarking from the aircraft with their luggage and being received by airport officials.
The minister said the latest evacuation (which is the fifth flight) brought the total number of Nigerians who have been voluntarily repatriated from South Africa since the xenophobic attacks started to over 1,500.
The Minister thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership’s intervention in facilitating the safe return of Nigerians stranded in South Africa, adding that the timely intervention helped to save lives that could have been lost.
She added that the President’s extension of the evacuation exercise beyond the June 30 deadline issued by Anti-migrant groups in South Africa reflects the President’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of the citizens in crises.
She also commended the Acting High Commissioner of the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, Amb. Alex Ajayi, the Consul- General of the Consulate in Johannesburg, Amb. Nini Okey Uche, officers of the country’s missions in South Africa, as well as the management and staff of Air Peace and others who were in one way or the other involved in the evacuation operations.
The operation, which was fully funded by the Nigerian government, saw over 1,500 Nigerians return home, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The first batch of 258 Nigerian evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11, 2026. This was followed by another 64 returnees through the South African Airways flight, 269 evacuees on June 30, and 282 returnees on July 9, 2026.
The evacuations were prompted by weeks of anti-immigration demonstrations in South Africa, with protest groups citing unemployment and crime as major concerns and issuing ultimatums for foreigners to leave the country. Over 1,000 Nigerian citizens had registered for the voluntary repatriation programme.
Rising to the challenge, the Nigerian government reassured its commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerians abroad. Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye said the government remains in contact with South African authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians.
Upon arrival in Lagos, the previous batches of evacuees underwent documentation, profiling, and medical screening before receiving temporary accommodation and other assistance to help them reunite with their families.
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To support the returnees’ resettlement, the governors of Edo and Imo states announced financial assistance of ₦1 million each for indigenes from their respective states. The governments of Enugu and Abia states also pledged cash support for their returning residents, while the Chris Oyakhilome Foundation donated food packs to help meet their immediate needs.
The Federal Government, through the Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the successful reintegration of the returnees.
Dabiri-Erewa stated that the FG will collaborate with some relevant agencies to provide necessary health, psychological, mental, social and economic support to the returnees as they reintegrate and settle down to build their lives.
The evacuation is part of a larger regional trend, with other African nations like Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe also organizing repatriation programmes for their citizens from South Africa.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X