Xenophobia: FG to receive 270 more Nigerians from South Africa Wednesday

The Federal Government says it has concluded arrangements to receive another batch of 270 Nigerians from South Africa on Wednesday as it continues the voluntary evacuation of its citizens.

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, confirmed the development in a statement on Monday.

He said an Air Peace aircraft assigned for the evacuation exercise would depart Lagos for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

According to the statement, the aircraft is scheduled to depart Lagos at 3:30 pm and arrive in Johannesburg at 12:00 midnight, carrying 270 returnees.

The ministry said the flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by 5:00 am on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.

The statement in full: “In continuation of the ongoing evacuation of our nationals from South Africa, the AirPeace aircraft deployed for the process is expected to depart Lagos tomorrow, Tuesday 7 July, 2026 for Johannesburg, South Africa at 3.30pm.

“The aircraft will depart Johannesburg for Lagos with 270 returnees at 12.00 midnight, and the estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos is 5.00am on Wednesday, 8 July, 2026, all things being equal.”

The latest evacuation flight is part of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians from South Africa.

The expected arrival of the fourth evacuation flight follows the successful return of earlier batches of evacuees under the government’s evacuation programme.