271 More Nigerians Evacuated from South Africa Arrive in Lagos as Repatriation Continues

The Federal Government has successfully evacuated another 271 Nigerians from South Africa, bringing the total number of citizens repatriated under the ongoing voluntary return programme to 599.

The latest batch of returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Tuesday morning aboard an Air Peace flight that departed Johannesburg at approximately 5:00 a.m. local time before landing in Nigeria shortly before 11:00 a.m.

The evacuees were received by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), who coordinated arrival procedures and support for the returnees.

The evacuation is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary repatriation programme, launched to assist Nigerians wishing to return home following a rise in anti-immigration protests and xenophobic tensions in South Africa.

The move comes after reports of growing hostility toward foreign nationals, including an unofficial June 30 ultimatum allegedly issued by some vigilante groups urging undocumented migrants to leave the country.

To safeguard Nigerian citizens, President Bola Tinubu approved the evacuation exercise, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announcing that five Air Peace evacuation flights had been arranged to bring home registered Nigerians who requested voluntary repatriation.

Before Tuesday’s evacuation, 328 Nigerians had already returned in two separate batches—262 on June 11 and another 66 on June 25.

With the arrival of the latest group, the number of Nigerians safely evacuated under the current programme has increased to 599, as the government continues efforts to protect its citizens affected by the situation in South Africa.