Nigeria has initiated the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, with the first cohort of 262 returnees departing Johannesburg for Lagos amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals. The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) disclosed this development on Thursday, June 11, in a statement shared via its official X account.
Initially postponed, the evacuation was rescheduled for Wednesday, according to Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The evacuees have now boarded their flight and are expected to arrive in Lagos within hours. NIDCOM confirmed that the operation was made possible through President Bola Tinubu’s directive and full funding of the Air Peace flight by the Federal Government. Several agencies collaborated under the coordination of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure a smooth return process.
According to NIDCOM, the group is accompanied by Nigeria’s Acting Ambassador to South Africa, Ambassador Ajayi. A Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanlaye, is expected to receive them upon arrival in Nigeria. This evacuation follows an earlier announcement by the Federal Government on June 5 that it had begun arrangements to repatriate Nigerians from South Africa amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment and renewed xenophobic tensions.
Speaking at the time, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa noted that authorities anticipated more than 1,000 Nigerians would express interest in returning home. Although the evacuation process was initially expected to begin earlier in the week, logistical adjustments led to a delay before the first group eventually departed Johannesburg on Thursday.
Tensions have been fueled by reports that a citizen-led group issued an ultimatum demanding the removal of undocumented migrants by June 30, raising fears of a resurgence of anti-foreigner violence that has previously claimed dozens of lives. Nigeria has intensified diplomatic engagement with South African authorities in response to growing concerns over the security and welfare of its citizens living in the country.
On May 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner as part of its formal response to the escalating situation. NIDCOM also confirmed that at least two Nigerians lost their lives in separate incidents linked to anti-foreigner violence. As the situation unfolds, the Top 10 Most affected sectors in the region include trade and hospitality, while Nigeria’s Food Beverage industry continues to monitor cross-border impacts. Meanwhile, the Uk Work Visa process remains unaffected, and the Imf Urges Nigeria to strengthen economic ties with South Africa to mitigate further disruptions. The Naira Settles N1,361/$ amid these geopolitical tensions, reflecting market caution.
