The Federal Government has announced that the next evacuation flight from South Africa will arrive in Nigeria on Tuesday, bringing home 271 Nigerians amid fears of renewed xenophobic attacks. An Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday to airlift citizens who registered for voluntary evacuation, following planned anti-immigration protests in South Africa that could trigger fresh violence.
Details of the evacuation flight
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that the Air Peace aircraft left Nigeria at about 3:00 p.m. on Monday and was expected to arrive in Johannesburg around 9:00 p.m. South African time. The return flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg shortly after midnight and arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning, according to the ministry's spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa. He disclosed that 271 Nigerians are expected on this latest flight.
Background and context of the evacuations
The evacuation comes amid growing concerns over planned anti-immigration protests in South Africa, with authorities warning that demonstrations targeting undocumented foreign nationals could spark xenophobic violence. The Federal Government said the operation is part of its ongoing efforts to protect Nigerians who wish to return home voluntarily following the security concerns. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Nigerians who choose to remain in South Africa to stay calm, be security conscious, and avoid areas where demonstrations may take place. It also advised citizens to maintain regular contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria for updates and emergency assistance.
Previous evacuation batches and total numbers
The latest evacuation follows the successful return of previous batches. The first evacuation flight brought 262 Nigerians back to Lagos earlier this month, while another 66 Nigerians returned in the second batch a few days later. With the arrival of the expected 271 passengers, the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa under the current exercise will rise to 599. The Federal Government had earlier approved multiple evacuation flights after hundreds of Nigerians indicated interest in returning home following reports of possible xenophobic attacks.
Registration and future plans
As registration continued, officials confirmed that more than 1,000 Nigerians had indicated their willingness to participate in the voluntary evacuation programme. Meanwhile, South African authorities have condemned calls for attacks on foreign nationals and said security agencies have been deployed to maintain law and order during the planned demonstrations. The Nigerian government said it will continue working with South African authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians who remain in the country while continuing the voluntary evacuation exercise for those who wish to return home.
