JUST IN: FG Resumes Evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa
The Federal Government is set to evacuate 271 Nigerians stranded in South Africa on Monday amid growing concerns over threats against undocumented foreign nationals in the country.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed that an Air Peace aircraft will depart Nigeria on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. to carry out the evacuation exercise.
According to Ebienfa, the aircraft is expected to arrive in South Africa at about 9:00 p.m. local time before departing at midnight for Nigeria. The return flight is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning with 271 evacuees on board.
“Nigeria will resume the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa today.
“An Air Peace aircraft will depart Nigeria today, Monday, June 29, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., and is expected to arrive in South Africa at approximately 9:00 p.m. local time.
“The return flight is scheduled to depart South Africa at 12:00 midnight and is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning. The expected number is 271,” Ebienfa said.
The evacuation comes ahead of a June 30, 2026 deadline issued by anti-immigration vigilante groups, which have demanded that undocumented foreign nationals, particularly black migrants, leave South Africa.
The threats have sparked fears of xenophobic attacks, prompting several African countries to begin evacuating their citizens. However, South African authorities have strongly condemned the vigilante groups’ actions and deployed police and military personnel to strengthen security across the country.
