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The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to evacuate another 270 Nigerians from South Africa as renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-immigrant protests continue to raise safety concerns for foreign nationals.
The returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, in the early hours of Wednesday aboard an Air Peace aircraft deployed for the government-coordinated operation.
The latest evacuation forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to assist citizens who have voluntarily opted to return home following rising security concerns in South Africa.
The exercise is being coordinated by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in collaboration with relevant government agencies.
Announcing the operation on Monday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the aircraft would depart Lagos for Johannesburg on Tuesday before returning overnight with the evacuees.
“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.”
The evacuation comes amid heightened diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa following a resurgence of xenophobic attacks that have claimed the lives of Nigerian nationals and sparked renewed calls for stronger protection of foreign residents.
The Federal Government has repeatedly assured Nigerians living in South Africa that it is engaging South African authorities to safeguard their lives and property while providing a voluntary evacuation option for those wishing to return home.
Air Peace has continued to play a central role in the humanitarian exercise, having participated in several government-assisted evacuation missions from countries affected by conflict, insecurity and humanitarian crises.
The latest operation follows the recent evacuation of 269 Nigerians from Johannesburg, reinforcing the government’s commitment to ensuring the safe and orderly return of citizens affected by the worsening security situation in South Africa.
