Another 268 Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa as the Federal Government continues the voluntary repatriation of citizens affected by anti-immigration protests and xenophobic attacks in the country.
The latest batch arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on Friday, July 3, aboard a government-funded Air Peace charter flight from O. R. Tambo International Airport.
Confirming the development, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said the aircraft returned with 268 Nigerians, alongside two officers and crew members.
She explained that the flight departed Johannesburg at 5:36 a.m.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has directed that the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa at risk as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks continues, even after the deadline of 30th June 2026 issued by South African Anti-migrant groups and vigilantes.
“Three batches of returnees, almost 600 Nationals in total, had earlier been successfully evacuated from South Africa before the deadline.
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“The evacuations remain ongoing. The Federal Government is committed to bringing home safely our Nationals who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared.
“Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in adherence to that unbreakable bond between citizen and state, remains dedicated to this mandate,” she said in a statement shared on her X account.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that protecting Nigerians abroad remains a priority of the Federal Government and described the welfare and dignity of citizens overseas as “a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The latest evacuation follows widespread anti-immigration demonstrations held across South Africa after citizen-led groups demanded that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country by June 30.
Nigeria is among several African countries, including Malawi, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, that have organised voluntary evacuation programmes for citizens wishing to return home.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has announced plans to seek compensation for Nigerians who abandoned businesses and other properties while fleeing South Africa.
Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said earlier this week that returnees had been instructed to document all assets left behind to support discussions with the South African authorities on possible compensation.