The first batch of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa after a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday morning.
They are part of roughly 1,000 people who have registered with the Nigerian consulate in South Africa for repatriation. The evacuees came on an Air Peace flight from Johannesburg and were met by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government.
Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, accompanied the 268 passengers from Pretoria and formally handed them over in Lagos. President Bola Tinubu approved five evacuation flights, all to be operated by Air Peace.
On arrival, the returnees went through documentation and profiling before reuniting with family members.
The evacuation follows an intensifying wave of anti‑migrant sentiment in South Africa. An unemployment rate of more than 30% has fed xenophobic attacks. Protest marches have been held in major cities, with groups — yes, even carrying traditional weapons — marching through industrial zones and demanding the removal of undocumented migrants.
Tensions spiked after a coalition of citizen groups issued an ultimatum for all undocumented foreign nationals to leave by 30 June. Pretoria called the deadline unofficial, but the announcement sparked anxiety and prompted countries including Ghana, Malawi and Mozambique to start repatriations.
The ministry said the screening exercise for Nigerians wanting to return voluntarily has been extended to Sunday, 14 June 2026. The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, calling the evacuation a show of its citizen‑centred foreign policy.
