President Bola Tinubu has ordered another round of evacuations for Nigerian nationals in South Africa amid ongoing xenophobic protests and anti-immigrant threats. The directive comes as a deadline issued by South African anti-migrant groups approaches.
New Evacuation Flight Scheduled
According to Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the minister of foreign affairs, a previous evacuation flight brought 66 Nigerians, mostly women and children, to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, June 24, 2026. Another Air Peace Airlines flight, fully funded by the federal government, is set to depart for Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, on Monday, June 29, to repatriate more Nigerians before the deadline.
Government Statement on Continued Evacuations
The statement from the foreign affairs ministry read: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has further directed that the evacuations will continue, even after the deadline has elapsed to ensure that no Nigerian citizen, who wants to come back to our home country is left behind.”
It added: “Other federal government agencies, including NEMA, NIS, FAAN and NIDCOM will be on hand at MMI Airport, Lagos to carry out on-site documentation, health screenings, and profiling for the returnees.”
The statement concluded: “To the Returnees, in advance we say, ‘Welcome back to the Homeland’.”
Background and Impact
The xenophobic attacks in South Africa have heightened tensions, with anti-migrant groups issuing a June 30 deadline for foreigners to leave. The Nigerian government has been proactive in evacuating its citizens, with the first flight bringing back 66 individuals. The new evacuation order underscores the government's commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
