Federal Government Evacuates 39 More Nigerians from South Africa as Air Peace Extends Rescue Mission

The Federal Government has evacuated another 39 Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, in a fresh emergency operation coordinated with Air Peace, as efforts continue to bring home citizens affected by ongoing xenophobic attacks.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced on Friday that the emergency flight was arranged to transport Nigerians who were unable to board Thursday’s evacuation aircraft.

According to the minister, the additional operation was designed to ensure that previously scheduled evacuation flights were not disrupted while accommodating stranded nationals who completed their travel documentation after the initial arrangements.

“39 Nigerian nationals are on a flight back from Johannesburg to Lagos on emergency travel arrangements facilitated by Air Peace in order to accommodate those unable to return on yesterday’s flight,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the intervention would prevent delays to the broader evacuation programme already underway for Nigerians in South Africa.

“This is to ensure that there is no interruption or spillover from the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation flights from South Africa, regarding our nationals who effected their documentation within the stipulated deadline,” she added.

The minister disclosed that the emergency flight is expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 8:50 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026. She also praised Air Peace for providing the additional aircraft needed to complete the operation.

“We wish to convey our appreciation for the management of Air Peace for their collaboration and facilitation of this additional exercise,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu further revealed that the final flight under the ongoing evacuation programme is expected next week, bringing home approximately 300 more Nigerians. She reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians affected by the renewed wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa.

The latest evacuation follows Thursday’s operation, during which 287 Nigerians, including 272 adults and 12 infants, were flown back to Nigeria after Air Peace deployed a replacement aircraft when the original plane developed a windscreen fault in Johannesburg.

The evacuation exercise began on June 11, 2026, in response to renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant protests across South Africa that have claimed the lives of several Nigerians, including Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu. President Tinubu later approved an extension of the exercise beyond its original June 30 deadline to enable more Nigerians wishing to return home to do so.

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The Federal Government has evacuated 39 more Nigerians from South Africa aboard an emergency Air Peace flight as the ongoing rescue mission enters its final phase.

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