Nigeria has evacuated another batch of 111 distressed Nigerian nationals from South Africa.
The returnees arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday, 8th October 2026, aboard South African Airways Flight SA060, amid ongoing concerns over xenophobic and afrophobic attacks in South Africa.
The batch, comprising 44 men, 23 women, and 44 children, was received by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and other relevant Federal Government agencies.
This evacuation was fully funded from the $265,854.00 (Two Hundred and Sixty-Five Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Four US Dollars) donation by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to support the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
With this arrival, the total number of evacuation exercises conducted from South Africa has risen to fifteen (15) since the commencement of the exercise on 10th June 2026. The cumulative number of Nigerian nationals evacuated now stands at 2,037, of whom 1,388 were repatriated at the full expense of the Federal Government.
Following this latest RCCG-funded evacuation, a total of 318 Nigerians have now had their one-way tickets funded by the Church, leaving a balance of 182 nationals to be repatriated under RCCG’s commitment to fund 500 tickets.
The Federal Government once again expresses profound gratitude to the RCCG, under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for its generous support towards the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The Government remains committed to engaging all relevant stakeholders, including the South African authorities, to address xenophobia and afrophobia and to promote the welfare, safety, and dignity of Nigerians residing in South Africa.
Nigerians in South Africa are advised to remain law-abiding, stay vigilant, and prioritize their personal safety. They are also encouraged to maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for consular assistance when needed.
The Federal Government remains steadfast in its commitment to providing timely consular support to Nigerians in the diaspora and safeguarding their welfare.
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Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu
