Xenophobia: FG to evacuate 270 Nigerians from South Africa Wednesday

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to evacuate 270 Nigerians from South Africa as part of its ongoing repatriation exercise for citizens willing to return home.

The returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Wednesday aboard an Air Peace aircraft deployed for the evacuation.

The latest evacuation follows the Federal Government’s continued efforts, through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and other relevant agencies, to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians facing various challenges in South Africa.

Announcing the schedule for the operation in a statement by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Monday, the FG disclosed that the aircraft would depart Lagos on Tuesday afternoon for Johannesburg, before returning with the evacuees overnight.

The statement read, “In continuation of the ongoing evacuation of our nationals from South Africa, the Air Peace aircraft deployed for the process is expected to depart Lagos tomorrow, Tuesday 7 July, 2026, for Johannesburg, South Africa at 3.30 p.m.

“The aircraft will depart Johannesburg for Lagos with 270 returnees at 12.00 midnight, and the estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos is 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 July, 2026, all things being equal.”

PUNCH Online reports that the Federal Government has, over the years, undertaken several evacuation exercises involving Nigerians stranded abroad due to security concerns, economic hardship, immigration issues and humanitarian emergencies.

Air Peace has also played a key role in previous government-assisted evacuation missions, including the repatriation of Nigerians from countries affected by conflicts and other crises.

The latest exercise underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring the safe return of its citizens who have indicated a willingness to come back to Nigeria.

PUNCH Online reported that the Federal Government assured Nigerians still residing in South Africa of their safety, even as fresh concerns over xenophobic tensions and renewed anti-immigrant protests continue to trigger calls for stronger diplomatic action.

The assurance came after Nigerians reportedly stormed the country’s embassy in Pretoria as xenophobic tensions escalated, while another batch of 269 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg at 10.48 am, marking the second government-coordinated evacuation exercise in recent weeks.