Xenophobia: FG to evacuate 270 Nigerians from South Africa Wednesday

The Nigerian Federal Government is set to evacuate 270 of its citizens from South Africa on Wednesday, July 8, 2026. The returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos early in the morning aboard an Air Peace aircraft.

This latest repatriation effort is a continuation of the government's commitment to assisting Nigerians who wish to return home due to various challenges faced in South Africa. The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and other relevant agencies have been instrumental in facilitating these voluntary returns.

The Air Peace aircraft is scheduled to depart Lagos on Tuesday afternoon for Johannesburg and will return with the 270 evacuees overnight. This exercise underscores the government's dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of its citizens abroad, especially in light of ongoing concerns over xenophobic tensions and anti-immigrant sentiments in South Africa. This follows a previous evacuation of 269 Nigerians just days prior.

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In continuation of the ongoing evacuation of our nationals from South Africa, the Air Peace aircraft deployed for the process is expected to depart Lagos tomorrow, Tuesday 7 July, 2026, for Johannesburg, South Africa at 3.30 p.m. “The aircraft will depart Johannesburg for Lagos with 270 returnees at 12.00 midnight, and the estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos is 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 July, 2026, all things being equal.”