The first group of Nigerians returning from South Africa is expected to touch down at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday morning, as Abuja presses ahead with a government-funded evacuation amid worsening xenophobic violence.
An Air Peace flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, carrying approximately 270 passengers as the opening trip in a series of planned evacuation flights.
President Bola Tinubu approved funding for the flights, with officials confirming that five aircraft were expected to be deployed across the overall repatriation exercise. The government has confirmed that returnees will not bear any travel costs.
More than 1,000 registered
The growing number of Nigerians returning from South Africa reflects increasing concern among migrant communities over safety and economic uncertainty.
At least 1,094 Nigerians had indicated their interest in leaving South Africa, Reuters reported on 5th of June, citing the country’s foreign ministry.
Screening of prospective returnees was conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Police, and immigration authorities.
Nigeria’s high commission in Pretoria said it had negotiated waivers with South African authorities to allow those with immigration-related offences to board the flights rather than face detention.
The first Nigerians returning from South Africa will be received by officials from the National Emergency Management Agency. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said the evacuation exercise was being carried out in collaboration with NEMA and other government agencies to ensure returnees receive adequate support and rehabilitation.
Flight delayed from Monday
The first evacuation flight was initially scheduled for Monday but was moved to Wednesday due to operational arrangements, with the foreign ministry stating the delay was not caused by diplomatic setbacks but by coordination issues that required additional time to resolve.
Officials said the delay would not affect plans for Nigerians returning from South Africa, as all documentation and clearance procedures remain on schedule.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu clarified that Monday’s timeline had been set for concluding documentation procedures rather than the start of flights. “The repatriation is on course. Mr President himself has reiterated the fact that this aircraft must come to South Africa,” she said.
South Africa pushes back
The prospect of Nigerians returning from South Africa en masse has strained diplomatic relations between Africa’s two largest economies.
South African Foreign Affairs Minister Ronald Lamola expressed concern and misgivings to his Nigerian counterpart over Abuja’s evacuation plans, according to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who shared details of their phone conversation on her verified Facebook page.
The Nigerian minister pushed back, saying it was “absolutely untrue” to describe Nigerians in South Africa doing legitimate business as illegal migrants.
South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed reports of widespread xenophobic attacks, characterising the violence as general criminality rather than targeted anti-foreigner hostility.
Nigeria weighs retaliation
The Federal Government declared on Monday that it was displeased with South Africa’s failure to respond firmly to the renewed attacks, warning that retaliatory diplomatic measures, including a review of bilateral privileges, were being actively considered.
The government said the welfare of Nigerians returning from South Africa remains a priority as diplomatic discussions continue.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said retaliatory action was “not off the table,” but stressed the decision would have to be taken at the highest level of government, including by the legislature.
Nigeria’s House of Representatives had already condemned the attacks and proposed economic sanctions, recommending a temporary suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria.
Wider regional picture
Nigeria is not alone in its response. The move comes after Ghana evacuated nearly 300 of its citizens from South Africa as the first batch of almost 800 Ghanaians who registered for repatriation. Nigeria’s foreign ministry noted that Abuja submitted its clearance list ahead of Accra but was deprioritised.
Operation Dudula and March for March took to the streets in late April 2026, demanding the removal of foreigners. The protests spread across several provinces and pushed many foreign nationals to abandon their homes and businesses.
The situation has heightened uncertainty for Nigerians returning from South Africa, many of whom cited security concerns as a key reason for joining the evacuation programme.
About 60 people died and 50,000 were displaced during a wave of xenophobic attacks in 2008, and fears are mounting that renewed violence could reach a similar scale. South Africa has seen similar eruptions before. Mobs killed at least 62 people in 2008 and attacks flared again in 2015, when Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini publicly called on foreigners to leave the country.
