The Federal Government is set to receive another batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa on Wednesday as efforts continue to repatriate citizens displaced by the latest wave of xenophobic violence in the country.
The fourth evacuation flight, commissioned by the Federal Government and operated by Air Peace, is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos, at about 5:00 a.m., carrying 270 Nigerians who voluntarily opted to return following renewed attacks.
With the latest operation, the total number of Nigerians evacuated under the emergency exercise will rise to 1,129, highlighting the scale of the Federal Government’s humanitarian response in collaboration with Nigerian diplomatic missions in South Africa.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed the flight schedule in a statement issued on Tuesday.
He said the Air Peace aircraft assigned to the operation would depart Johannesburg at midnight before arriving in Lagos in the early hours of Wednesday.
“In continuation of the ongoing evacuation of our nationals from South Africa, Air Peace aircraft deployed for the process is expected to depart Johannesburg for Lagos with 270 returnees at 12.00 midnight and the estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, is 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, all things being equal,” Ebienfa said.
The latest evacuation follows three earlier flights that returned 859 Nigerians, many of whom reportedly fled after businesses were attacked, properties destroyed and fears of further violence spread through communities with large migrant populations.
The Federal Government has maintained that while many Nigerians have chosen to remain in South Africa, it will continue facilitating the voluntary return of those who no longer consider it safe to stay.
The renewed evacuation has again drawn attention to the recurring challenge of xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals, particularly migrants from other African countries, have periodically come under attack over allegations that they compete with locals for jobs, housing and business opportunities.
Nigeria has been among the countries most affected by previous outbreaks of anti-immigrant violence, with Nigerian-owned businesses looted or destroyed and several citizens injured or killed during earlier incidents.
The violence has repeatedly tested diplomatic relations between Abuja and Pretoria, prompting high-level engagements, bilateral consultations and the establishment of mechanisms aimed at preventing future attacks and protecting foreign nationals.
Although South African authorities have consistently condemned xenophobic attacks and pledged to prosecute perpetrators, fresh incidents continue to raise concerns about the safety of migrants and the effectiveness of measures introduced to curb the violence.
Government officials said arrangements had been concluded to receive the returnees on arrival in Lagos, where relevant agencies would provide documentation, counselling and reintegration support before they proceed to their respective destinations.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad while sustaining diplomatic engagements with South African authorities to address the underlying causes of the recurring attacks.
The arrival of the fourth evacuation flight is expected to mark another milestone in Nigeria’s emergency response to the crisis as concerns persist over the recurring cycle of xenophobic violence targeting African migrants in South Africa.
Michael Olugbode
