Another Batch of Nigerians Repatriated from South Africa

Another batch of 268 Nigerians displaced by the ongoing wave of anti-migrant violence in South Africa has arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as the Federal Government intensified efforts to evacuate citizens who voluntarily opted to return home.

The latest returnees were flown into the country aboard a special Air Peace charter flight funded by the Federal Government. The aircraft departed O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at 5:36 a.m. on Friday and conveyed 268 returnees, alongside two officials and crew members, marking the latest phase of Nigeria's emergency evacuation operation.

Announcing the development, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that the evacuation should continue despite the expiration of the June 30 deadline issued by anti-migrant groups in South Africa.

"The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed that the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa who are at risk as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks should continue, even after the June 30 deadline," the minister said.

She disclosed that nearly 600 Nigerians had already been evacuated in three earlier flights before the deadline, noting that the repatriation exercise remains open to all Nigerians who voluntarily registered for evacuation and successfully completed the required screening process.

"The evacuations remain ongoing. The Federal Government is committed to bringing home safely our nationals who voluntarily registered to be evacuated and have been duly screened and cleared," she stated.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed that the protection of Nigerians abroad remains a key foreign policy priority of the Tinubu administration.

"Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in adherence to the unbreakable bond between citizen and state, remains dedicated to this mandate. Protecting Nigerians abroad remains a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda," she added.

The latest evacuation follows weeks of heightened anti-immigrant demonstrations across several South African cities, where groups have demanded the removal of undocumented foreign nationals, accusing them of contributing to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.

The protests, led by organisations including Operation Dudula and the March and March Movement, culminated in nationwide demonstrations on June 30, during which police maintained heavy security presence to prevent widespread violence. Although most protests remained under control, isolated incidents of looting, stone-throwing and confrontations with foreign nationals were reported, particularly around Johannesburg.

South African authorities have confirmed that at least four people, including citizens of Mozambique, Malawi and Ethiopia, lost their lives during the latest wave of xenophobic violence, while thousands of migrants have either fled their communities or sought voluntary repatriation.

Nigeria is among several African countries—including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique—that have organised evacuation arrangements for their citizens affected by the unrest.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government has begun documenting businesses, vehicles and other movable and immovable properties abandoned by returning Nigerians, as it prepares to engage the South African Government on compensation.

Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, said affected citizens had been directed to provide detailed records of assets left behind to support future diplomatic engagements.

"We have asked them to accurately document the businesses, vehicles and other properties they are leaving behind. We will work with the South African Government to verify these assets and pursue appropriate compensation. We will not allow years of hard work by our citizens to be lost without due process," Ajayi said.

He explained that the repatriation exercise goes beyond returning citizens home safely, stressing that the government is committed to protecting the economic interests of Nigerians whose investments were disrupted by the unrest.

The Federal Government has assured that evacuation flights will continue for all eligible Nigerians seeking to return home, while diplomatic engagements with South African authorities are expected to address both the security of Nigerians remaining in the country and compensation for verified losses sustained during the attacks.