A first batch of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa over renewed xenophobic violence arrived in Lagos on Thursday, June 11, 2026, landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport at about 10:30am aboard an Air Peace flight.
The evacuation forms part of a Federal Government response to escalating attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa, which prompted emergency arrangements for the voluntary return of affected citizens.
The flight was initially scheduled for Monday, June 8, but was shifted to Wednesday, June 10, due to documentation delays before the evacuees eventually arrived on Thursday.
More than 1,000 Nigerians are said to have registered for voluntary return as insecurity worsened in affected areas.
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Screening began on Thursday, June 4, with an initial closure date of Saturday, June 6, 2026, before being extended to Sunday, June 7, to accommodate more applicants.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria secured waivers from South African authorities to allow Nigerians with immigration-related offences to leave voluntarily rather than face detention.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Federal Government had activated coordinated reception, documentation and reintegration support for the returnees through relevant agencies.
It added that the evacuation underscores Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad as a core foreign policy priority.