​FG to Evacuate 270 More Nigerians from South Africa Wednesday

​The Federal Government of Nigeria is pressing ahead with its emergency evacuation of citizens from South Africa, as 270 more Nigerians are set to return home this week. This latest operation, scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, 2026, marks another significant step in a series of government-funded rescue missions aimed at ensuring the safety of Nigerians caught in a volatile climate of anti-migrant violence.

​Sustained Evacuation Efforts

​According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Air Peace aircraft commissioned for the mission is scheduled to depart Lagos on Tuesday afternoon, July 7, for Johannesburg. It will return with the 270 returnees, touching down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

​This flight represents the latest in a robust repatriation drive that has successfully brought home nearly 600 Nigerians in previous batches since June 11, 2026. Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa reiterated that all flights are fully funded by the Nigerian government, emphasizing that no fees are charged to returnees—a direct rebuttal to misinformation suggesting that mission staff were soliciting bribes for evacuation slots.

​A Climate of Fear

​The ongoing evacuations follow a sharp surge in xenophobic tensions across South Africa, which intensified in late May and early June 2026. Violent anti-immigrant movements, such as “March & March” and remnants of the “Operation Dudula” network, have been blamed for widespread intimidation, the looting of foreign-owned businesses, and the displacement of thousands of African migrants.

​The crisis reached a boiling point ahead of a June 30 ultimatum issued by anti-migrant groups, who demanded that undocumented foreigners exit the country under threat of a national strike. Despite the passing of this date, sporadic violence and vigilante-style “clean-up campaigns” continue to target non-South Africans in major hubs, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban.

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​Diplomatic Response

​President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has remained steadfast in his directive to continue the evacuations for all citizens who have voluntarily registered and cleared the necessary screening, regardless of the June 30 deadline. Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has emphasized that the protection of Nigerian lives remains a central pillar of the administration’s foreign policy, noting that the government is committed to upholding the dignity of its citizens abroad even in the face of regional hostility.

​While the South African government has faced criticism for a perceived inadequate law enforcement response, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria continues to coordinate closely with local agencies to process those seeking a safe return. Returnees arriving in Lagos are immediately handed over to relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for profiling and support as they reintegrate into the country.