The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has announced that the final batch of 315 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa will arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, following recent xenophobic attacks and security concerns affecting Nigerians living in parts of the country.
The evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace, is scheduled to leave Johannesburg, South Africa, at 1:30 a.m. and is expected to arrive in Lagos at about 6:30 a.m., according to a statement issued on Tuesday by ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
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“The last and fifth evacuation flight from South Africa operated by Air Peace is expected to depart Johannesburg with 315 returnees on Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 1.30am and the estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos is 6.30am,” Ebienfa said.
The evacuation exercise was launched after some Nigerians expressed interest in returning home amid reports of renewed xenophobic tensions and concerns about their safety.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said four previous flights had already brought back 1,141 Nigerians since the programme began on June 11, 2026.
The government added that the figure did not include 66 Nigerians evacuated through a private arrangement and another 39 people returned through an Air Peace-supported effort.
The evacuation programme represents one of the Federal Government’s responses to concerns raised by Nigerians abroad over safety, discrimination and economic difficulties.
While xenophobic incidents have repeatedly affected relations between Nigerians and South Africans over the years, both governments have continued to engage through diplomatic channels to address tensions and protect citizens.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the interests of Nigerians abroad and thanked organisations and individuals who contributed to the successful completion of the evacuation process.
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The return of the final group is expected to mark the conclusion of the current repatriation exercise, although officials said support for Nigerians facing challenges overseas remains a priority.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
