FG evacuates 105 more citizens from S’Africa over xenophobic attacks

The Federal Government has evacuated another 105 distressed Nigerians from South Africa following renewed concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in the country.

The returnees, comprising 82 adults and 23 children, arrived in Lagos on South African Airways flight SA060 at about 8:30pm on Thursday, September 24, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement by Oluwafemi Adeniyi, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday.

Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies received the returnees on arrival.

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The latest evacuation brings to 1,821 the number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa since the Federal Government commenced the consular evacuation exercise on June 10, 2026.

According to the ministry, the latest exercise was the 13th consular evacuation from South Africa since the programme began.

Of the 1,821 Nigerians evacuated so far, the Federal Government fully funded the evacuation of 1,388 persons.

The ministry said the evacuation of 100 of the 105 returnees in the latest batch was funded from a $265,854 donation made by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to purchase one-way tickets for 500 distressed Nigerians seeking to return to Nigeria from South Africa.

The remaining five returnees were evacuated with funding provided by a private Nigerian citizen, the ministry said.

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The government said its diplomatic mission in South Africa was continuing discussions with the leadership of RCCG and other philanthropic groups and individuals to facilitate the return of additional Nigerians who have expressed concerns over their safety.

It added that some distressed Nigerians were undergoing preliminary clearance with the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg and relevant South African authorities.

“They will be evacuated as soon as the process is finalized,” the ministry said.

The Federal Government expressed appreciation to RCCG, led by Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for its donation towards the evacuation of 500 Nigerians, describing the intervention as a contribution to efforts to provide relief to Nigerians seeking to return home because of distress and concerns over their safety.

It also commended other groups and individuals that had supported the evacuation programme.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Federal Government remained “deeply concerned” about persistent xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in the country.

It said Nigeria would continue diplomatic engagements and pursue other measures to secure the cooperation of South African authorities in tackling xenophobia and Afrophobia and protecting Nigerians living in the country.

“The Federal Government remains deeply concerned about persistent Xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa,” the ministry said.

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It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the lives, rights, welfare and dignity of Nigerians in the diaspora, adding that appropriate diplomatic and consular measures would be deployed whenever circumstances required.

The government also urged Nigerians resident in South Africa to remain vigilant and law-abiding and maintain contact with the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for consular assistance when necessary.