The federal government has assured Nigerians residing in South Africa that all citizens who have indicated willingness to return home following ongoing xenophobic attacks will be evacuated before June 30, 2026.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance in a statement issued on Thursday by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze.
She reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the safety, welfare and protection of Nigerians living abroad, stressing that no citizen who has registered for evacuation would be left behind.
According to the minister, the evacuation process is already in progress, with the first batch of Nigerians successfully returned to the country.
She noted that 258 Nigerians were airlifted from South Africa and received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11 by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that about 1,000 Nigerians had registered for evacuation, adding that arrangements were being finalised to bring home the remaining citizens before the June 30 deadline.
This means that more than 740 Nigerians are expected to return to Nigeria in subsequent evacuation flights.
The minister said President Tinubu had directed that Nigerians facing threats, harassment and insecurity in South Africa who voluntarily choose to return home should receive immediate assistance.
Expressing concern over reports of attacks and discrimination against Nigerians and other African migrants, she stated that the Nigerian government was engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels while also exploring lawful measures to address the situation.
“When it comes to situations like this, of course, it is necessary to be temperate and exercise caution. But when your citizens are being harassed… then it becomes a serious concern,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further noted that some of the affected Nigerians have established families in South Africa, with spouses and children who were born and raised in the country.
She criticised what she described as the unequal treatment of Nigerians despite the significant presence of South African businesses in Nigeria, including MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic and Protea Hotels.
The minister also warned that the activities of anti-migrant vigilante groups were damaging South Africa’s international reputation and eroding its image as a symbol of post-apartheid pan-African unity.
She revealed that South African authorities had declined to activate the Memorandum of Understanding on an Early Warning Mechanism signed between both countries in October 2025 to safeguard citizens during periods of tension, citing procedural concerns.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that other African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, had also commenced evacuation of their nationals from South Africa amid rising security concerns.
LEADERSHIP recalls that at least 270 Nigerians, who constituted the first batch of returnees from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks, arrived in Lagos earlier this month as part of the federal government’s evacuation programme.
