The Federal Government has concluded plans to evacuate another 270 Nigerians from South Africa under its ongoing voluntary repatriation programme, with the returnees expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday.
The evacuees are scheduled to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Peace aircraft in the early hours of Wednesday, July 8.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the evacuation schedule in a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the Air Peace aircraft will depart Lagos on Tuesday afternoon for Johannesburg before returning overnight with the evacuees.
“In continuation of the ongoing evacuation of our nationals from South Africa, the Air Peace aircraft deployed for the process is expected to depart Lagos tomorrow, Tuesday 7 July, 2026, for Johannesburg, South Africa at 3.30 p.m.
“The aircraft will depart Johannesburg for Lagos with 270 returnees at 12.00 midnight, and the estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos is 5.00 a.m. on Wednesday, 8 July, 2026, all things being equal,” the statement read.
The latest exercise is part of the Federal Government’s efforts, through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and other relevant agencies, to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians facing various challenges in South Africa.
The government has conducted similar evacuation operations in recent years for Nigerians stranded abroad due to security concerns, immigration issues, economic hardship and humanitarian crises.
Air Peace has also partnered with the government on several evacuation missions, including the repatriation of Nigerians from countries affected by conflicts and other emergencies.
The latest operation comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant protests in South Africa, which have prompted calls for stronger diplomatic engagement.
The Federal Government recently assured Nigerians residing in South Africa of their safety, even as tensions escalated. The reassurance followed protests by some Nigerians at the country’s embassy in Pretoria and the successful evacuation of 269 Nigerians from Johannesburg in a previous government-coordinated operation.
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