The Federal Government will on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, evacuate 271 Nigerians from South Africa amid renewed fears of xenophobic violence linked to a June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration vigilante groups targeting undocumented foreign nationals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said an Air Peace aircraft will handle the operation, departing Nigeria at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, before proceeding to South Africa for the evacuation flight.
Spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa said the aircraft is expected to arrive in South Africa around 9:00 p.m. local time and will depart at midnight with the returnees.
He said the exercise is aimed at safeguarding Nigerian nationals following escalating threats and heightened tension over the planned action against foreigners in South Africa.
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In a statement, Ebienfa said: “Nigeria will resume the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa today.”
He added that the operation has presidential approval and is being coordinated to ensure the safe return of Nigerians who voluntarily opted for repatriation.
According to him, more than 500 Nigerians have been screened for evacuation, while Air Peace has been assigned five flights for the ongoing exercise.
Before the latest operation, 328 Nigerians had already returned in two batches, with 262 arriving in Lagos on Thursday, June 11, 2026, and 66 on Thursday, June 25, 2026.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation is being implemented in collaboration with relevant agencies to ensure an orderly and secure return process.