Nigeria Resumes Evacuation of Citizens from South Africa Amid Xenophobia Fears

Nigeria is resuming the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa as xenophobic tensions rise and anti-immigrant groups plan protests. An Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday to bring back another group of Nigerians on Tuesday morning.

More than 700 Nigerians are stranded in South Africa just days before a June 30 deadline set by anti-immigration groups. Despite President Bola Tinubu approving funds for their evacuation, bureaucratic delays have stalled the release of money, leaving citizens stranded amid escalating xenophobic sentiment.

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Nigeria will resume the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa today.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the resumption of the evacuation. "Nigeria will resume the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa today," he stated. An Air Peace aircraft was scheduled to depart Nigeria at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, June 29, 2026, arriving in South Africa around 9:00 p.m. local time. The return flight was set to depart South Africa at midnight, arriving in Lagos on Tuesday morning.

Ebienfa advised Nigerians remaining in South Africa to exercise caution, avoid protest areas, and stay in contact with Nigerian authorities for updates. This latest evacuation is part of a program approved by President Tinubu earlier this month. Previously, the government had evacuated 328 Nigerians in two batches, with the first flight on June 11 bringing home 262 citizens and a second batch of 66 arriving on June 25.

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To be calm and security conscious. Avoid routes and areas dominated by protesters. Always be in contact with the Nigerian High Commission for necessary updates.