Third evacuation flight is scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Friday as the Federal Government dismisses allegations that officials demanded payment from returnees
The Federal Government has announced that 271 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa are expected to arrive in Lagos on Friday, as authorities continue the repatriation of citizens affected by the recent xenophobic protests in the country.
Also read: Second repatriation flight: Air Peace returns 269 Nigerians from South Africa
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the development in a statement issued on Thursday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, saying the latest evacuation flight would move the government closer to completing the return of Nigerians who voluntarily registered for the exercise.
According to the ministry, the third evacuation flight is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at about 5:30 a.m. on Friday, July 3, 2026, with 271 passengers on board.
The ministry said the Federal Government has already evacuated 593 Nigerians in two previous operations since the exercise began.
It recalled that the first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight and were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, before being handed over to relevant ministries, departments and agencies for documentation and profiling.
The ministry explained that logistical difficulties delayed the second evacuation operation, leaving some Nigerians temporarily accommodated at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, where officials provided welfare support pending their departure.
According to the statement, a Nigerian philanthropist subsequently funded the airfare for 66 stranded Nigerians, enabling them to return home on June 24, while another 269 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 30 through the second government-coordinated evacuation flight.
The ministry added that three additional evacuation flights are planned in the coming days to bring home about 700 more Nigerians who have voluntarily registered, completed screening and received clearance for evacuation.
Responding to allegations that officials at the Nigerian Mission in South Africa demanded money from intending returnees before including them on evacuation lists, the ministry strongly denied the claims.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to place on record that all the special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees,” the statement said.
It added that allegations suggesting mission officials requested payment before processing evacuees were “totally false, fake news, and should be discarded.”
The ministry commended the cooperation of the ministries, departments and agencies involved in the evacuation exercise, describing the inter-agency collaboration as vital to the success of the operation.
“The Ministry appreciates the very positive coordination and collaboration with relevant MDAs in making this process a success, and we will continue to work together for the good of our country,” the statement added.
The latest operation follows reports of xenophobic violence in parts of South Africa, where foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have periodically faced attacks, intimidation and destruction of property over the years.
Successive Nigerian administrations have organised evacuation flights during previous outbreaks of anti-foreigner violence, while also engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels to improve the safety of Nigerian citizens residing in the country.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, the ministry said the evacuation exercise reflects Nigeria’s foreign policy objective of safeguarding its citizens wherever they may be.
“The evacuation process clearly underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement said.
“It also reflects the Government’s determination to ensure that Nigerians affected by crises abroad receive the necessary support, dignity, and care.
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The lives of Nigerians living abroad matter, and we are trying our best as a Ministry to give them a sense of belonging.”
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
