Nigeria Resumes Evacuation of Citizens from South Africa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed the resumption of the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa amid concerns of potential xenophobic attacks. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, announced that an Air Peace aircraft would depart Nigeria on June 29, 2026, at 3:00 PM, arriving in South Africa at approximately 9:00 PM local time.

The return flight is scheduled to leave South Africa at midnight and is expected to arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on the morning of June 30. This initiative is part of a voluntary evacuation program approved by President Bola Tinubu, which aims to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens.

The government has previously facilitated the return of 328 Nigerians in two batches, with the first flight arriving on June 11, bringing home 262 citizens, and the second batch of 66 returning on June 25. The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has advised citizens to avoid unnecessary movements and remain vigilant due to planned anti-immigrant protests starting June 30.