By Ndudirim Sylvia Iloka
The Federal Government has evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic protests, with more flights scheduled to bring home hundreds of others seeking voluntary return.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first evacuation flight landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11, 2026, carrying 258 returnees aboard a special Air Peace flight. The evacuees were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, before being handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling.
The ministry disclosed that operational challenges delayed the second evacuation exercise, prompting temporary accommodation and support for affected Nigerians at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria. During that period, a Nigerian philanthropist sponsored flight tickets for 66 stranded Nigerians, who returned to Lagos on June 24 via South African Airways.
A separate evacuation flight arrived on June 30 with 269 returnees, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa to 593.
Authorities said the evacuation programme is still ongoing, with three additional flights expected in the coming days. About 700 more Nigerians who have completed registration, screening and clearance procedures are scheduled to return home. The next batch, carrying 271 passengers, is expected to arrive in Lagos on July 3 at approximately 5:30 a.m.
The Ministry also dismissed allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission demanded payment from citizens seeking evacuation, describing the claims as false and misleading. It stressed that all special evacuation flights are fully funded by the Federal Government and remain free for returnees.
Officials also praised the collaboration among government agencies involved in the operation, noting that the exercise highlights Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad and providing assistance to those affected by crises in foreign countries.
