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The Federal Government has concluded arrangements for the final evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, with 315 citizens expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday aboard an Air Peace flight, bringing to a close the emergency repatriation exercise launched in response to recent xenophobic attacks and security concerns.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, saying the fifth and final evacuation flight would depart Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 6:30 a.m.
According to the ministry, the Air Peace-operated flight marks the conclusion of the Federal Government’s evacuation programme for Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home following the recent wave of xenophobic violence and insecurity in parts of South Africa.
The statement noted that the government had already completed four evacuation flights, successfully returning hundreds of Nigerians to the country as part of efforts to safeguard the lives and welfare of its citizens abroad.
“The fifth and final evacuation flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 6:30 a.m.,” the ministry stated.
It added that the latest operation would conclude the evacuation exercise initiated for Nigerians affected by the security situation in South Africa.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they reside, while expressing appreciation to Air Peace and all agencies and stakeholders that supported the evacuation process.
The latest batch of returnees is expected to bring the government’s emergency airlift programme to a close, ending weeks of coordinated efforts to bring home Nigerians displaced by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
