Nigeria Evacuates Over 1,100 Citizens From South Africa

The Government of Nigeria has coordinated a multi-phase emergency evacuation of its citizens from South Africa following escalated xenophobic violence and an anti-migrant deadline on June 30. In collaboration with Air Peace and ValueJet, the operation has successfully repatriated 1,134 Nigerians to date.

Air Peace completed the fourth phase of the mission on July 9, using a Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft to bring home 284 nationals. On July 10, a subsequent flight from Johannesburg to Lagos transported an additional 39 citizens who had missed previous departures despite completing their documentation. ValueJet also supported the humanitarian effort by transporting 66 Nigerians free of charge.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that a final evacuation flight, expected to bring home approximately 300 more nationals, is scheduled for next week. While the Nigerian Union South Africa commended the repatriation efforts, the union urged the government to increase diplomatic engagement to protect the properties and businesses of Nigerians who remain in South Africa.