Xenophobia: FG airlifts 39 more Nigerians from South Africa

The Federal Government has evacuated 39 more Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, on an emergency Air Peace flight.

The arrangement was made to accommodate nationals who could not return on Thursday’s evacuation flight.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

She said, “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.”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the additional flight was arranged to avoid disrupting the pre-scheduled evacuation flights for nationals who completed their documentation on time.

She said, “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.”

According to the minister, the flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, 10 July 2026, at 8.50pm.

She commended the airline for facilitating the additional operation.

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

Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that the last flight under the exercise, expected to bring home about 300 more Nigerians, would arrive in the country next week.

She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the safety of Nigerians in South Africa.

She said, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and protection of our nationals imperilled as a result of the xenophobic incidents that are ongoing in South Africa.”

Alendtrend News Media reports that Thursday’s flight, the fourth batch under the exercise, conveyed 287 Nigerians, comprising 272 adults and 12 infants, after an earlier aircraft was grounded when its windscreen reportedly shattered in Johannesburg.

Air Peace deployed a replacement aircraft to complete that operation.

The evacuation exercise began on 11 June 2026 following renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests across South Africa, which have claimed the lives of several Nigerians, including Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu.

Tinubu had earlier approved an extension of the exercise beyond its initial 30 June deadline to accommodate more nationals seeking to return home.

Xenophobia: FG airlifts 39 more Nigerians from South Africa

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