Nigerians Return Home Amid Rising Xenophobia in South Africa

The Nigerian government continues to facilitate the voluntary evacuation of its citizens from South Africa amid rising xenophobia concerns. A recent flight on Tuesday carried 269 returnees, landing at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

This marks the second official evacuation flight organized by the Nigerian government, following a previous flight that returned 258 Nigerians on June 11, bringing the total number of returnees to 593. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that additional flights are expected as the government engages with South African authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerian nationals.

The urgency of these evacuations has been heightened by threats against undocumented migrants, with South African rights groups reportedly issuing a deadline for their departure from the country. The Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), led by Dipo Onabowale, has identified benefactors to assist in these efforts, including Kunle Soname, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ValueJet.