The Federal Government is set to receive the first batch of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, will receive the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday morning.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the returnees will arrive aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight scheduled to land in Lagos at about 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
The statement noted that the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Pretoria, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, will accompany the evacuees to Nigeria and formally hand them over to the Minister upon arrival.
The Federal Government also announced an extension of the ongoing screening exercise for Nigerians willing to voluntarily return home from South Africa as a result of the attacks.
The exercise, initially scheduled to end earlier, has now been extended until Sunday, June 14, 2026, to allow more affected Nigerians to register for evacuation.
According to the ministry, the extension underscores the government’s commitment to the welfare, safety and protection of Nigerian citizens living abroad.
The ministry further assured that all necessary arrangements have been made to receive the returnees, including documentation, reception and support services to facilitate their reintegration upon arrival.
The evacuation comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have periodically been targeted in attacks linked to tensions over employment, crime and immigration. Previous incidents have prompted diplomatic engagements between both countries and led to similar evacuation exercises for affected Nigerians.
The Federal Government has continued to urge Nigerians abroad to remain law-abiding while assuring citizens that it will take necessary measures to protect their interests and ensure their safety wherever they reside.
