The Federal Government has concluded its emergency evacuation of Nigerians affected by xenophobic violence in South Africa, with the final Air Peace flight arriving in Lagos and bringing the total number of evacuees to more than 1,500.
The last evacuation aircraft transported 308 Nigerians alongside three government officials from Johannesburg to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, marking the completion of the government-backed voluntary repatriation programme approved for citizens who chose to leave South Africa.
According to Brandspur Politics, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed that the final flight departed O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning, bringing an end to a series of emergency rescue operations launched in response to renewed xenophobic attacks targeting black migrants.
The evacuation exercise followed several earlier flights that had already returned hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa after reports of escalating anti-immigration violence and security concerns. The Federal Government said the operation was organised to ensure the safe return of registered Nigerians willing to come back home.
President Bola Tinubu had approved the voluntary repatriation initiative as part of the government’s response to the deteriorating security situation facing Nigerian nationals in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently coordinated the exercise in collaboration with Air Peace and relevant agencies.
Before the commencement of the flights, more than 500 Nigerians had undergone screening as part of preparations for the evacuation programme, with Air Peace receiving approval to operate the humanitarian airlift.
Government officials said the operation was designed to provide safe transportation for all eligible Nigerians who registered for evacuation, while diplomatic missions in South Africa worked closely with authorities to facilitate the process.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for authorising the emergency intervention, describing the evacuation as a timely response that enabled vulnerable Nigerians to return safely amid the wave of xenophobic incidents.
She also acknowledged the contributions of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa, Air Peace and other stakeholders whose collaboration ensured the successful completion of the emergency operation.
The conclusion of the evacuation marks the end of Nigeria’s immediate humanitarian response to the latest outbreak of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, with more than 1,500 citizens successfully repatriated through the government-sponsored airlift programme.
