The latest returnees will arrive in Lagos on August 19 after private sponsors funded their tickets, following a wider evacuation of nearly 1,490 Nigerians
Eighty-three Nigerians are scheduled to return from South Africa to Lagos on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, following renewed concerns over Afrophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday.
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The latest group of Nigerians returning from South Africa will depart Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at about 3:35pm local time aboard South African Airways and is expected to arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at approximately 8:45pm.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the latest evacuation was made possible through the intervention of private individuals who paid for the returnees’ air tickets.
“The Ministry wishes to note that this latest cohort of returnees is facilitated through the kind intervention and sponsorship of tickets by public-spirited private individuals, whose generosity the Federal Government acknowledges with profound gratitude,” the ministry said.
The development comes after the Federal Government concluded a voluntary evacuation programme that brought nearly 1,490 Nigerians back from South Africa amid concerns about attacks, discrimination and hostility towards foreign nationals.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the earlier operation involved multiple evacuation flights.
Official ministry records show that the first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Nigeria in June, followed by a second flight carrying 269 returnees and a third carrying 266.
The ministry subsequently said the wider exercise had resulted in the evacuation of 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa following xenophobic attacks.
The latest return is therefore distinct from the earlier government-funded evacuation programme, with private citizens stepping in to finance the tickets for the 83 Nigerians.
The Federal Government said the intervention reflected the importance of collective action when Nigerians face emergencies outside the country.
It commended the sponsors for what it described as patriotism and selflessness, saying their support had helped ease the difficulties confronting the affected Nigerians.
“The Ministry commends their patriotism and selflessness, which have significantly alleviated the plight of our compatriots in South Africa,” the statement added.
The government also appealed to organised private-sector groups, corporate organisations, state governments, philanthropists and Nigerians in the diaspora to support similar efforts when citizens encounter emergencies abroad.
The appeal comes as Nigeria continues to balance the protection of its citizens with the need to preserve its longstanding relationship with South Africa.
The Federal Government said President Bola Tinubu’s administration remained committed to safeguarding the welfare, dignity and interests of Nigerians at home and overseas.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said its Citizen Diplomacy policy regarded Nigerians living abroad “not as a burden, but as critical assets for national development”.
The government has also made clear that evacuation is not being presented as the only response to the situation.
Nigeria intends to continue diplomatic engagement with South Africa to address the underlying causes of Afrophobia and seek stronger protection for Nigerians and other African nationals.
“The government remains committed to deepening strategic partnerships with host nations, including South Africa, to address the root causes of Afrophobia and ensure that such acts of violence and discrimination against Nigerians are prevented and are strongly condemned when they occur, including holding perpetrators of such violence to account,” the ministry stated.
The renewed evacuation effort follows a period of heightened anxiety among foreign nationals in South Africa.
In June, Nigeria announced its voluntary repatriation programme after concerns about xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant protests.
The ministry said at the time that the exercise was being conducted in coordination with South African authorities.
The government also stressed that the evacuation programme was voluntary.
Earlier reports from the Foreign Affairs Ministry indicated that some Nigerians seeking to return had documentation or residency concerns, while others were responding to the wider insecurity and hostility towards foreign nationals.
For the 83 Nigerians scheduled to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday, the latest journey represents a return home after a period of uncertainty.
For Abuja, however, the challenge extends beyond bringing citizens back.
The government is also seeking to strengthen diplomatic cooperation with Pretoria so that Nigerians who choose to live, work or do business in South Africa can do so with greater security and dignity.
The ministry’s call for wider private-sector involvement also signals a more collaborative approach to consular emergencies, with government resources supplemented by individuals and organisations willing to provide immediate assistance.
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The latest development thus combines an immediate humanitarian response with a broader diplomatic effort to tackle the conditions that have repeatedly raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
