The Federal Government has announced plans to evacuate 270 Nigerian nationals from South Africa as part of ongoing efforts to repatriate citizens affected by renewed xenophobic attacks and deteriorating security conditions in the country.
The evacuation will be carried out on the fourth special flight operated by Air Peace, which is scheduled to depart Lagos for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, before returning to Nigeria with the affected citizens.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aircraft is expected to depart Lagos at 3:30 p.m. and return with 270 registered evacuees, marking another phase in the government’s repatriation programme for Nigerians willing to return home.
The flight is expected to leave Johannesburg at 12:00 midnight and arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, subject to operational conditions.
According to a statement issued by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Monday in Abuja, an Air Peace aircraft deployed for the evacuation exercise would depart Lagos for Johannesburg today.
The latest operation marks the fourth evacuation flight organised by the Federal Government in its ongoing efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerian citizens from South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has issued a final call to Nigerian nationals in South Africa to complete their documentation and take advantage of the ongoing evacuation programme amid the persistent xenophobic attacks and growing security concerns.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the government remained deeply concerned about the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa, particularly following the deaths of two citizens, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu.
In a statement posted on her X handle on Monday, the minister said Nigeria was monitoring developments closely and had extended evacuation arrangements to enable more citizens to return home safely.
“Nigeria remains concerned about the safety of its citizens in South Africa as a result of the ongoing Xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants, and even more so following the deaths of 2 Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during these unfortunate events,” she stated.
The minister called on South African authorities to thoroughly investigate the incidents and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.
“We demand that South African authorities urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice, and we are urging our citizens who consider their lives at risk to take advantage of the Federal Government-sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home,” she said.
According to her, despite previous evacuation operations, there were no indications that the security situation was improving.
“There are no signs that the situation is improving,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted.
She recalled that following the earlier evacuation of Nigerians in three separate operations, President Bola Tinubu approved an extension of the programme beyond the June 30 deadline.
“Following the earlier evacuations of our citizens in three separate operations, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, extended the evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight having arrived in Nigeria on 3rd July 2026,” she said.
The minister urged Nigerians still in South Africa to make use of the available seats on the evacuation flights, stressing that the government had provided sufficient capacity to accommodate those willing to return.
“Our citizens are strongly advised to take advantage of this extension and utilise the full capacity of the aircraft,” she added.
She disclosed that another evacuation flight would depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, while the final evacuation aircraft was expected to arrive in South Africa on July 10.
“Another evacuation flight will leave for Johannesburg tomorrow, Tuesday, 7th July, to bring home our citizens.
“The last evacuation flight is expected to arrive in South Africa on 10th July. Our nationals are again advised to weigh the risks regarding whether to remain or return,” she said.
Credit: Punch
