Xenophobia: FG Evacuates 271 Nigerians from South Africa as Thousands Seek Return Home

The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to evacuate Nigerians from South Africa as fears over planned anti-immigrant protests continue to grow, with 271 more citizens scheduled to return home under the latest evacuation exercise.

The latest development comes amid reports that more than 15,000 Nigerians are willing to return to the country ahead of the June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups in South Africa. While the figure has circulated widely, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has disputed claims that such a large number of Nigerians remain stranded.

A Nigerian awaiting evacuation told Vanguard that many citizens had become frustrated with the process, alleging that some officials handling the exercise in South Africa demanded money before adding names to the evacuation list.

“I am tired. The officials here are asking people for money before they will be included in the list of people to be repatriated. I can no longer wait for Nigeria to come home; I have purchased my own ticket and I will be coming home next week, but so many others don’t have money to buy their way home,” the source claimed.

Reacting to the allegation, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, dismissed the claim, insisting that no official was extorting Nigerians. He confirmed that an Air Peace aircraft was scheduled to depart Nigeria for South Africa to bring back another batch of evacuees.

According to Ebienfa, the return flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos with 271 Nigerians who voluntarily opted for evacuation. He added that the government plans to evacuate about 700 more citizens, depending on the evolving situation in South Africa.

Air Peace spokesperson Efe Osifo-Whiskey also confirmed preparations for the evacuation but disclosed that the aircraft experienced delays before departure. He said the airline remained ready to transport the 271 passengers but could not immediately explain the cause of the delay.

The evacuation programme was approved by President Bola Tinubu earlier this month following growing concerns over planned xenophobic protests targeting foreign nationals. Since the operation began, 334 Nigerians have already returned home in two batches—268 via Air Peace on June 11 and another 66, mainly women and children, via ValueJet on June 25.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, assured Nigerians that evacuation flights would continue even after the June 30 deadline if necessary. In a statement shared on her official X account, she stressed that the Federal Government remained committed to ensuring that every Nigerian who wishes to return home would be given the opportunity.

“Today’s evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace Airlines and fully funded by the Federal Government, is expected to land at Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa, to bring home our nationals ahead of the deadline issued by South African anti-migrant groups. No Nigerian who wants to return home will be left behind.”