No fewer than 268 Nigerians have returned to the country as the Federal Government continued the evacuation of citizens from South Africa following ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 10:40 a.m. aboard a special charter flight operated by Air Peace and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The latest evacuation was disclosed on Friday in a statement by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who said the exercise was carried out on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu despite the June 30, 2026, deadline issued by anti-migrant groups and vigilantes in South Africa.
The latest batch brings to nearly 900 the number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, following the successful return of almost 600 citizens in three earlier flights before the deadline.
According to the statement, the chartered flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 5:36 a.m. with 268 returnees, alongside two officers and crew members.
Relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) were on hand at the airport to carry out documentation and profiling of the returnees upon arrival.
The Federal Government said the evacuation exercise remains ongoing and reaffirmed its commitment to bringing home all Nigerians in South Africa who voluntarily registered for evacuation and had been duly screened and cleared.
The minister said the protection of Nigerian citizens abroad remains a priority and a key pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that the government remains committed to safeguarding the dignity and welfare of its citizens wherever they may be.