Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Federal Government has announced that another 271 Nigerians affected by the recent xenophobic protests in South Africa will arrive in Lagos today (Friday) as the ongoing evacuation exercise continues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the third evacuation flight operated by Air Peace would depart Johannesburg at midnight and land at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026.
The ministry said the latest batch brings the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa so far to 593. The first batch of 258 returnees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight and were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, on behalf of the Federal Government before being handed over to relevant ministries, departments, and agencies for documentation and profiling. A second batch of 269 evacuees arrived on June 30, while 66 others returned on June 24 after a Nigerian philanthropist voluntarily paid their airfare.
According to the ministry, three additional evacuation flights have been scheduled to bring home about 700 more Nigerians who have voluntarily registered, been screened, and cleared for evacuation. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to assure Nigerians that three additional flights will be operated in the next few days to ensure that all Nigerians who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared are brought back safely to the country," Ebienfa said.
The ministry also dismissed allegations that officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa demanded money from citizens before including them on the evacuation list. "For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to place on record that all the special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees," the ministry stated. It described the allegations as "totally false, fake news, and should be discarded."
Speaking with journalists shortly after their arrival, several of the evacuees said they returned to Nigeria with almost nothing, having abandoned years of investments to escape the attacks. One returnee, Emmanuela Akagosu, said she was forced to leave behind everything she had built since relocating to South Africa in 2017. "My experience in South Africa was not good at all. They are not accommodating. They see Nigerians as hardworking and enterprising, so they feel threatened by us," she said. "South Africa is not a safe place. They keep telling us, 'Amber, Amber,' meaning we should leave or be killed. They threatened to kill us if we refused to leave."
Another returnee, Sandy Oris, from Anambra State, described his decision to spend 14 years in South Africa as one of his greatest regrets. "They destroyed my shop and carted away all my goods. I came back to Nigeria with nothing," he lamented. Oris appealed to the Federal Government to provide support for the returnees, noting that many were now stranded. He vowed never to leave Nigeria again, expressing confidence that he could rebuild his life at home.
South Africa has in recent days witnessed a renewed wave of anti-illegal immigration protests and sporadic unrest, beginning around June 30, 2026, in parts of major urban centres and migrant-heavy communities. The demonstrations have been driven largely by groups demanding stricter enforcement of immigration laws, accusing undocumented foreign nationals of worsening unemployment, crime, and pressure on public services. While the protests initially began as organised street demonstrations and community marches, they reportedly escalated in some areas into violent confrontations and looting incidents targeting foreign-owned shops and residences.
The Federal Government has also stated that it will seek compensation from South Africa for businesses and property abandoned by Nigerians fleeing the attacks. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a central pillar of Nigeria's foreign policy and a core responsibility of the ministry. "The evacuation process clearly underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas," the ministry said. "It also reflects the Government's determination to ensure that Nigerians affected by crises abroad receive the necessary support, dignity, and care."
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