ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Federal Government has extended the ongoing verification and screening exercise for Nigerian nationals in South Africa who have registered for voluntary repatriation following a fresh wave of xenophobic hostilities.
Initially scheduled to conclude over the weekend, the emergency screening exercise has now been extended by an additional four days and will officially end on Wednesday, June 10, 2026.
The Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, confirmed the development on Sunday, noting that the extension follows a direct update from the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria aimed at ensuring all interested citizens are adequately captured and processed.
Free Airlifts and Flight Logistics
Amidst anxiety over the logistics of the emergency exercise, the Federal Government clarified that the returning citizens will not bear any repatriation costs. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially approved five emergency evacuation flights to facilitate the repatriation.
Domestic carrier Air Peace has been designated to operate the evacuation flights.
”Mr. President has approved five evacuation flights that will be operated by Air Peace,” Ebienfa stated. “The first flight, which will airlift about 270 passengers, is expected to leave Johannesburg on Monday evening, provided the necessary diplomatic permits and operational clearances are secured for the aircraft.”
The final departure schedules and arrival protocols in Lagos will be made public as soon as the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa secures the requisite aviation clearances.
Inter-Governmental Screening Exercise
The multi-agency verification process, which commenced on Thursday, June 4, is being jointly conducted by:
- The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria
- South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO)
- The South African Police Service (SAPS)
- South African Immigration Authorities
The joint collaboration aims to seamlessly verify identities, immigration status, and travel documentation to guarantee an orderly and transparent airlift.
According to official updates, over 500 Nigerians have already been successfully screened and cleared for departure, while data from the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) indicates that the total number of citizens seeking voluntary repatriation has topped 1,000.
Rising Tensions Prompt Massive Exit
The intervention by the Federal Government is a direct response to escalating anti-immigrant protests and systematic harassment targeting African migrants across several South African communities. The diplomatic mission, overseen by Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner, Amb. Olatunde Ajayi, stepped in after foreign nationals raised alarms over targeted threats, looting of foreign-owned businesses, and reported harassment of migrant children in schools.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, along with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, remain engaged as both nations work to manage the unfolding humanitarian and diplomatic situation safely.
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