The Federal Government of Nigeria has evacuated another batch of 111 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this on Sunday, noting that the returnees arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways Flight SA060 over the weekend.
This was contained in a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, who said that the latest batch comprised 44 men, 23 women and 44 children. He explained that officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and other relevant federal government agencies received the returnees on arrival.
Adeniyi noted that the evacuation was fully funded through the $265,854 donation made by the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG to support the repatriation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
He added that the latest exercise brought the total number of consular evacuations conducted from South Africa to 15 since the exercise commenced on June 10, 2026.
According to the ministry, the cumulative number of Nigerians evacuated from the country has risen to 2,037, with 1,388 having their repatriation expenses fully covered by the Federal Government.
The statement further disclosed that 318 Nigerians have so far benefited from the RCCG-funded one-way tickets, leaving 182 more nationals expected to be repatriated under the church’s commitment to fund the evacuation of 500 Nigerians.
The Federal Government expressed appreciation to the RCCG, under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for its financial support towards the evacuation of distressed Nigerians.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging relevant stakeholders, including South African authorities, to address xenophobia and Afrophobia and promote the safety, welfare and dignity of Nigerians residing in the country.
The ministry advised Nigerians in South Africa to comply with local laws, remain vigilant and prioritise their safety.
It also urged them to maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for consular assistance whenever necessary.
Meanwhile, the federal government reiterated its commitment to providing timely consular support to Nigerians in the diaspora and safeguarding their welfare and well-being.
