Nigeria Evacuates 2,151 Citizens This Year Amid Xenophobia in South Africa; 114 Arrive on 16th Repatriation Flight

LAGOS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria stated in a press release on October 23 (local time) that 114 Nigerian nationals who returned to escape xenophobia in South Africa arrived in Lagos on the evening of October 22. They landed in Lagos aboard South African Airways (SAA) flight SA060 at around 8:30 p.m. on October 22. The ministry tallied that this return was the 16th flight since evacuations began on June 10, bringing the total number of Nigerians who have returned from South Africa so far to 2,151. The press release was issued under reference number MFA/PR/2026/280 in the name of Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oluwafemi Adeniyi.

Foreign Ministry States 114 Arrived in Lagos on the 22nd Aboard Flight SA060 from South Africa

The ministry broke down the 114 passengers on this return flight as 57 men, 23 women, and 34 children. The ministry explained that they returned due to concerns over "xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks" that occurred in South Africa.

At the airport, returnees were met by officials from federal agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). In the press release, the ministry reaffirmed its stance of "unequivocal condemnation" regarding the xenophobic incidents in South Africa.

The ministry urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to abide by local laws, remain vigilant, and prioritize their personal safety. It advised those requiring consular assistance to contact the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria or the Consulate General in Johannesburg.

Government Tallies 16th Operation and Cumulative 2,151 Returnees Since June 10 Evacuation Launch

The cumulative evacuation figure of 2,151 individuals tallied by the ministry accumulated over approximately four and a half months following the launch of operations on June 10. The ministry counted this flight, SA060, as the 16th evacuation flight.

The evacuation operation has been conducted using a combination of charter flights and scheduled commercial services. Initial large-scale transport was handled via charter flights by Nigerian private carrier Air Peace, while batches with fewer passengers were accommodated on scheduled South African Airways flights. The October 22 return flight was also South African Airways flight SA060.

The ministry has stated that from the outset of the operation, the High Commission in Pretoria, the Consulate General in Johannesburg, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Port Health Services worked in coordination. Returnee registration, departure formalities, and post-entry quarantine and reception were handled across these agencies.

Ministry Discloses It Raised Situation with ECOWAS and African Union During 12th Batch Return on Sept. 16

The tally immediately preceding this evacuation came in September. In a press release dated September 17 (MFA/PR/2026/239), the ministry announced the return of 33 individuals who arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways flight SA060 at around 8:30 p.m. on September 16. The 33 people consisted of 17 adults and 16 minors, with the ministry recording this flight as the 12th batch and bringing the cumulative evacuation tally to 1,716. From 1,716 on September 16 to 2,151 on October 22, four additional return flights were operated over about five weeks, adding 435 individuals.

In the September release, the ministry cited "renewed incidents of Xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans" in South Africa as the reason for the evacuations. The ministry stated that it had raised the matter before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government and the African Union (AU) Assembly, and was exploring further measures with South African authorities. Consular transport had thereby elevated to the agenda of regional bodies.

Federal Government's Fully Funded Share Stalls at 1,388, with Recent Batches Covered by Private Donations

The ministry stated that among the 2,151 individuals who have returned so far, the federal government fully funded the return expenses for 1,388. This figure of 1,388 was also listed identically in the September 17 release. At the time, the ministry described 1,388 as "about 81%" of the cumulative 1,716 returnees. While the number of fully funded returnees remained unchanged at 1,388, the total number of evacuees grew from 1,716 to 2,151, causing the government-funded share to drop from 81% to below 65%.

Airfares outside government funding were covered by private donations. In its October 23 release, the ministry stated that the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), led by Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, contributed $265,854 to sponsor one-way air tickets for 500 Nigerians, with church-funded returnees reaching 432, including the latest batch. During the September return of 33 individuals, air tickets were funded by the Patriotic Nigerian Goodwill Business Forum (PNGBF) and the Nigerian Lawyers Association South Africa (NLASA). The ministry previously disclosed in early July that the airfares for the 66 who returned on June 24 were covered by a Nigerian volunteer.

However, the ministry did not clarify in its October 23 release which batches comprised the 1,388 fully funded individuals, nor where the dividing line lies between private donations and government expenditure. The announcement also contained no explanation of how the remaining 68 tickets between the 500 pledged by the church and the 432 actually utilized would be applied.

Foreign Ministry Denies Early July Allegations of 'Extortion Prior to Evacuation' as "Fake News"

As the evacuation process extended past a month, suspicions also arose regarding diplomatic missions' handling of costs. In a July 2 press release (MFA/PR/2026/111), the ministry flatly denied circulating claims that mission staff in South Africa had demanded money prior to placing individuals on the evacuation manifest. Regarding the allegation, the ministry declared, "That is totally false, fake news, and should be discarded." The ministry emphasized that all special evacuation flights are "fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees."

In the same release, the ministry outlined the scale of evacuation candidates. It tallied that a total of 700 individuals had voluntarily registered and been vetted, with 593 having returned by July 2, leaving approximately 107 remaining. However, in the very same release, the ministry projected the passenger count for the next return flight scheduled for July 3 at 271, a figure that results in an inconsistency by pushing the total past 700. The release also offered no explanation for the divergence between the initial 700 registered individuals and the subsequent actual evacuation tally (2,151 through October 22).

First Evacuation Began June 11 with 258 Aboard Air Peace Flight

The first transport operation of the repatriation effort took place on June 11. According to the ministry, an Air Peace special charter flight landed at the international wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at around 10:25 a.m. that day, carrying 258 first-batch returnees. At the time, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye received the returnees at the airport representing the federal government, while Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Temitope Alexander Ajayi escorted them from the mission. The ministry stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu conveyed his greetings and best wishes to the returnees.

In its press release during the first evacuation in June, the ministry stated, "No Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality," adding that "the Federal Government of Nigeria will not stand idly by while our citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment."

The ministry considers June 10 as the commencement date of the operation. This differs by one day from the date the first return flight landed in Lagos (June 11). Even in the cumulative summary table issued by the ministry in mid-July, the first flight is recorded as "Air Peace on June 10," showing that departure and arrival dates conflict across different releases.

Foreign Ministry Tally Shows 1,490 Returned Across Seven Flights by Mid-July

A press release issued by the ministry on July 14 (MFA/PR/2026/142) summarized the return flights up to that point in a table. The ministry calculated that 1,490 individuals had returned across seven flights. According to the table, the flights were: 1st flight (June 10, Air Peace) 258 people; 2nd flight (June 24, South African Airways) 66 people; 3rd flight (June 30, Air Peace) 272 people; 4th flight (July 2, Air Peace) 268 people; 5th flight (July 9, Air Peace) 282 people; 6th flight (July 11, South African Airways) 39 people; and 7th flight (July 15, Air Peace) 305 people. The ministry stated that the 7th flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 6:30 a.m. local time and arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 11:30 a.m., carrying 305 returnees and two government officials. This document included a flight operated on July 15, which was later than the release date (July 14), presenting an internal date discrepancy.

The figures for each batch also diverge between different releases. In a July 3 press release (MFA/PR/2026/115), the ministry announced that an Air Peace return flight landed in Lagos at 10:40 a.m. that day with 266 returnees. Conversely, the July 14 cumulative table recorded flights for the corresponding period as "June 30, 272 people" and "July 2, 268 people," reflecting discrepancies in flight designations, dates, and passenger numbers among the official documents. The ministry stated in the July 14 release that "all forms of xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against foreign nationals are unacceptable."

Nigerian Government Urges South African Authorities to Protect All Foreigners and Punish Perpetrators

In its October 23 press release, the ministry urged South African authorities to protect all persons regardless of nationality and hold perpetrators accountable. The ministry reiterated its commitment to upholding the protection, welfare, and dignity of its nationals. Regarding the lives of its citizens, the ministry previously stated in its July release that "The lives of Nigerians living abroad matters."

The ministry reaffirmed that it would continue returnee registration and transport operations. However, the October announcement contained no figures regarding how many Nigerians still remain in South Africa or what the scale of additional return demand might be. The projected conclusion date of the operation and the total target volume were also omitted from the document. While the ministry has brought 2,151 individuals back to Nigeria across 16 operations since June, the xenophobic crisis in South Africa has driven consular repatriation operations between two of Africa's regional powers into their fifth month.

Sources (KST)

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Press Release No. MFA/PR/2026/280 · 2026-10-23 · Nigeria Evacuates 114 More Distressed Nationals from South Africa · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Press-Release-on-22-October-Evac.-from-SA.pdf
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Posted 2026-10-23 · NIGERIA EVACUATES 114 MORE DISTRESSED NATIONALS FROM SOUTH AFRICA · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/nigeria-evacuates-114-more-distressed-nationals-from-south-africa/
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Press Release No. MFA/PR/2026/239 · 2026-09-17 · Nigeria Facilitates the Return of 33 Distressed Nationals from South Africa · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Press-Release-on-the-Evacuation-of-33-Nigerians-from-SA.pdf
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Press Release No. MFA/PR/2026/142 · 2026-07-14 · Federal Government Has Evacuated 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa Following Xenophobic Attacks · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Press-Release-No-2026-142.pdf
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Press Release No. MFA/PR/2026/115 · 2026-07-03 · Third Evacuation Flight from South Africa Operated by Air Peace Arrives in Lagos with 266 Returnees · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Press-Release-No-2026-115.pdf
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Press Release No. MFA/PR/2026/111 · 2026-07-02 · Update on Evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Press-Release-No-2026-111.pdf
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria · Posted 2026-06-11 · First Batch of 258 Nigerian Nationals Evacuated from the Republic of South Africa Arrived Safely in Nigeria · https://foreignaffairs.gov.ng/news/first-batch-of-258-nigerian-nationals-evacuated-from-the-republic-of-south-africa-arrived-safely-in-nigeria/