Nigeria Extends Evacuation Screening for Citizens in SA

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced an extension of the evacuation screening for Nigerians in South Africa to June 10, 2026, due to ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants. The announcement was made by Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, following a decision communicated by Nigeria's mission in Pretoria.

The screening process, which began on Thursday, aims to determine the exact number of Nigerians interested in returning home. As of now, 500 Nigerians have been screened and cleared for evacuation.

President Bola Tinubu has approved five evacuation flights to facilitate the return of affected Nigerians, with the first flight scheduled to airlift 270 passengers from Johannesburg on Monday, pending necessary security clearances. This initiative is part of the Federal Government's efforts to assist Nigerians opting to return home amid the renewed xenophobic violence.