The Federal Government has confirmed the successful evacuation of 593 Nigerian nationals from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic protests in the country, reaffirming its commitment to protecting citizens abroad.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11, 2026, aboard a special Air Peace flight.”
They were “received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, before being handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling.”
The Ministry explained that “logistical challenges delayed the second evacuation flight, prompting temporary accommodation for some Nigerians at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.”
It added that “a Nigerian philanthropist sponsored the return of 66 citizens, who arrived in Lagos on June 24 via South African Airways.” “Another 269 evacuees returned on June 30, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated so far to 593.”
The Ministry disclosed that “three additional evacuation flights will be operated in the coming days to bring home about 700 more Nigerians who voluntarily registered, were screened, and cleared for evacuation.”
“The next batch, comprising 271 returnees, is expected to arrive in Lagos at 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026.”
The Federal Government also “dismissed allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa demanded money from citizens seeking evacuation.”
It stressed that “all special evacuation flights are fully funded by the government and are completely free for returnees, describing the claims as false and misleading.”
The Ministry commended “the cooperation of relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the evacuation exercise, noting that the operation reflects Nigeria’s commitment to safeguarding its citizens overseas and ensuring that Nigerians affected by crises receive timely support, dignity, and care.”