Governance
Home at last! FG completes evacuation of 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa.
Air Peace has successfully concluded its evacuation operations from South Africa, with the Federal Government confirming that a total of 1,490 Nigerians have been safely brought back home following weeks of xenophobic attacks and growing security concerns.
The final evacuation flight arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, carrying 305 returnees alongside three Nigerian government officials who coordinated the exercise from Johannesburg.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the humanitarian exercise was carried out through a coordinated partnership involving Air Peace Limited and South African Airways. The evacuation campaign began on June 10 after sustained diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and South Africa over attacks targeting foreign nationals. The seven evacuation flights transported 258 Nigerians on June 10, 66 on June 24, 272 on June 30, 268 on July 2, 282 on July 9, 39 on July 11 and the final 305 on July 15, bringing the total number of returnees to 1,490. Air Peace alone airlifted 1,393 Nigerians in five missions using its Boeing 777-200 aircraft.
Air Peace spokesperson Efe Osifo Whiskey described the operation as a mission that reunited families, restored hope and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad. He noted that each evacuation flight returned citizens safely to their loved ones after weeks of uncertainty.
The returnees were received in Lagos by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside senior officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service. Dabiri-Erewa expressed sympathy for the returnees and conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s assurance of support for their reintegration. The operation was coordinated with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, NIDCOM, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Port Health Services and other relevant agencies. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs commended Air Peace for its role, describing the evacuation as a demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to the welfare and protection of its citizens abroad.
