Xenophobia: 270 Nigerians Set to Arrive From South Africa Today

The Federal Government has commenced plans to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following renewed xenophobic tensions, with the first batch of about 270 evacuees expected to arrive in Nigeria today.

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved five evacuation flights to be operated by Air Peace as part of efforts to assist affected Nigerians.

According to him, the first flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg on Monday evening, subject to the necessary permits and operational clearances. He noted that over 500 Nigerians have already been screened and cleared for evacuation.

The government also extended the screening exercise for Nigerians seeking voluntary repatriation until June 10, 2026, to accommodate more applicants and complete verification procedures. The exercise is being coordinated through Nigeria’s mission in Pretoria.

Earlier reports indicated that more than 1,000 Nigerians registered for the voluntary evacuation programme. Authorities said the extension became necessary as officials continue processing and verifying applicants.

Ebienfa assured that details regarding departure schedules and arrival times in Nigeria would be communicated once updates are received from the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa.

The evacuation programme forms part of the Federal Government’s response to growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals following recent anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.