Air Peace Evacuates 268 More Nigerians From South Africa

July 3 () — Air Peace, on Friday, evacuated another 268 Nigerians from South Africa, as the Federal Government expanded its emergency repatriation programme following renewed anti-migrant violence.

The latest evacuation flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 5:36 a.m., and arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, conveying 268 Nigerian returnees, alongside two government officials and the flight crew.

The successful operation marks another phase of Nigeria’s ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise launched in response to escalating anti-migrant protests across South Africa, where thousands of demonstrators have demanded the removal of undocumented foreign nationals, triggering fears of renewed xenophobic attacks.

Announcing the latest evacuation, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said President Bola Tinubu had directed that the operation should continue until every Nigerian who voluntarily registered for evacuation is brought home safely, despite the expiration of the June 30 ultimatum.

“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has directed that the evacuation of Nigerian nationals from South Africa at risk as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks continues, even after the deadline of 30th June 2026”, the minister said in a statement posted on her official X account.

She explained that the latest flight followed three earlier evacuation operations that had already brought nearly 600 Nigerians back home before the June 30 deadline.

According to the minister, the evacuation exercise remains open to all Nigerians who voluntarily indicated interest in returning and have completed the necessary screening and documentation processes.

“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 said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that protecting Nigerians overseas remains a central responsibility of the Tinubu administration, describing the safety and welfare of citizens abroad as “a central pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.”

She added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would continue working through Nigeria’s diplomatic missions to provide consular assistance and ensure that no willing Nigerian is left behind.

The latest evacuation further underscores Air Peace’s growing role in national humanitarian operations.

The airline has remained at the forefront of the South Africa evacuation exercise, deploying its long-haul aircraft to support the Federal Government’s emergency response and transport stranded Nigerians back home safely.

Air Peace has in recent years undertaken several humanitarian and emergency evacuation missions, partnering with the Federal Government during crises affecting Nigerian citizens in different parts of the world.

The renewed evacuation exercise comes against the backdrop of widespread anti-immigrant demonstrations that swept across major South African cities, including Johannesburg and Durban, where protesters accused undocumented foreign nationals of contributing to unemployment, crime and pressure on public services.

Although South African authorities condemned the protests and deployed thousands of police officers, tactical units and helicopters to prevent widespread violence, isolated incidents of looting, intimidation and attacks on foreign-owned businesses heightened fears among migrant communities.

The latest unrest has reportedly claimed at least four lives and forced thousands of migrants from several African countries to seek temporary shelter or register for voluntary repatriation.

Nigeria is among a number of African countries (including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique) that have organised emergency evacuations for citizens affected by the crisis.

Beyond the evacuation programme, the Federal Government has also begun documenting businesses, vehicles and other valuable assets abandoned by returning Nigerians as it prepares to seek compensation from the South African authorities.

Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, had earlier disclosed that the Nigerian mission was compiling records of businesses and other movable and immovable properties left behind by returnees as part of efforts to pursue compensation claims.

Ajayi also dismissed suggestions that most Nigerians living in South Africa were undocumented migrants, explaining that many entered the country legally but became affected by prolonged delays in the renewal of residence and work permits by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.