Federal Government Brings Home 111 Nigerians from South Africa

The Federal Government evacuated 111 Nigerians from South Africa amid rising xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks. The returnees, consisting of 44 men, 23 women, and 44 children, arrived in Lagos on October 8, 2026, aboard South African Airways flight SA060.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed this in a statement by spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi. Various government agencies, including the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the National Emergency Management Agency, received the returnees.

This evacuation was part of a larger effort funded by a $265,854 donation from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), aimed at bringing 500 distressed Nigerians home. Since the operation began on June 10, 2026, a total of 2,037 Nigerians have been evacuated, with 1,388 having their repatriation costs covered by the government.

The RCCG has supported 318 Nigerians, with another 182 expected to benefit. The government expressed gratitude to the RCCG and its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, and reiterated its commitment to addressing safety concerns for Nigerians in South Africa.