Nigeria Brings Home First Batch Of South Africa Returnees
Two hundred and sixty-eight Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks are due to arrive in Lagos this morning, with the federal government receiving them at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, will represent the federal government in receiving the returnees, according to a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, on Wednesday.
The statement said the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Pretoria, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, will escort the first batch of 268 passengers to Nigeria and formally hand them over to the minister. The Air Peace evacuation flight is expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5:00 a.m.
The arrivals form part of a wider repatriation exercise prompted by a fresh wave of anti-foreigner violence in parts of South Africa. The evacuation is being carried out by Air Peace and fully funded by the federal government, meaning affected Nigerians will not pay for the trip.
The ministry disclosed that the ongoing screening exercise by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria, for Nigerians willing to voluntarily return home, had been extended to Sunday, June 14, 2026, to accommodate more affected persons. It noted that the extension became necessary to accommodate additional Nigerians seeking to leave South Africa as a result of the security concerns arising from the xenophobic attacks.
According to the ministry, the extension reflects the federal government’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad. The statement stressed that the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas “remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” adding that it “also reflects the government’s determination to ensure that Nigerians affected by crises abroad receive the necessary support, dignity, and care.”
The ministry further assured that relevant ministries, departments and agencies had put in place adequate reception, documentation and support arrangements for the returnees upon arrival. It noted that comprehensive arrangements had been made, including documentation, profiling and support services to facilitate their reintegration and reunion with family members.
South Africa has witnessed recurring episodes of xenophobic violence over the years, with foreign nationals, including Nigerians, frequently targeted during such flare-ups. The latest attacks have renewed concerns about the safety of the Nigerian community in the country and tested diplomatic ties between Abuja and Pretoria.