FG To Evacuate 271 Nigerians From South Africa Tuesday
The Federal Government has announced that another batch of 271 Nigerians will be evacuated from South Africa on Tuesday as part of its ongoing voluntary repatriation programme aimed at safeguarding citizens ahead of planned anti-immigration protests in the country.
According to the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday and is expected to return to Lagos on Tuesday morning with 271 Nigerians who opted for voluntary evacuation.
Ebienfa said the evacuation was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure the safety of Nigerians in South Africa as anti-immigration groups prepare to stage demonstrations from June 30.
He said, “Nigeria will resume the evacuation of our nationals from South Africa today.
“Air Peace aircraft will depart Nigeria today, Monday, June 29, 2026, at 3:00 pm and is expected to arrive in South Africa at approximately 9:00 pm local time.
“The return flight is scheduled to depart South Africa at 12:00 midnight and is expected to arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning.”
President Bola Tinubu approved the voluntary evacuation programme earlier this month to enable Nigerians willing to leave South Africa to return home safely amid rising tensions.
Earlier in June, the Federal Government disclosed that five Air Peace evacuation flights had been approved after more than 500 Nigerians were screened for repatriation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the flights were intended to ensure that all registered Nigerians wishing to return home would be evacuated safely.
Before the latest operation, 328 Nigerians had already been repatriated in two batches.
The first flight, which arrived on June 11, brought back 262 returnees, while a second batch of 66 landed in Lagos on June 25.
The evacuation exercise is being coordinated by the Federal Government in collaboration with Air Peace and other relevant agencies.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
