Nigeria has announced another xenophobia evacuation flight to bring home citizens stranded in South Africa as renewed anti-migrant violence continues to raise safety concerns.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed on Monday that the Federal Government will dispatch another aircraft to Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return home. The move forms part of an ongoing emergency response to protect Nigerians affected by the unrest.
The latest operation follows three previous evacuation exercises conducted since last month. According to the minister, the final aircraft assigned to the evacuation programme is expected to arrive in South Africa on July 10.
Xenophobia evacuation flight extended for Nigerians
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said President Bola Tinubu approved an extension of the evacuation exercise beyond the initial June 30 deadline to ensure more Nigerians have an opportunity to leave.
She urged citizens who believe their lives are in danger to take advantage of the Federal Government-sponsored flights instead of remaining in unsafe conditions.
The minister explained that the fourth evacuation flight arrived in Nigeria on July 3, while another aircraft will depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday to continue the humanitarian mission.
She also advised Nigerians still considering their options to carefully assess the risks before deciding whether to remain in South Africa.
Government urges citizens to prioritise safety
The minister stressed that protecting lives remains the government’s highest priority.
She noted that although lost property and business investments can be rebuilt, lives cannot be replaced. Therefore, she encouraged Nigerians facing threats to use the available evacuation arrangements while flights remain operational.
According to her, the Federal Government remains committed to safeguarding Nigerians living abroad and will continue taking necessary measures to protect them during the crisis.
Furthermore, she assured citizens that Nigerian authorities are closely monitoring developments in South Africa.
Deaths heighten concern over xenophobic violence
The latest xenophobia evacuation flight announcement comes after the reported killing of two Nigerians during the ongoing unrest.
The victims, identified as Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, reportedly died amid attacks linked to the renewed wave of anti-migrant violence.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu condemned the killings and called on South African authorities to launch urgent investigations.
She also demanded that those responsible be identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
According to the minister, Nigeria remains deeply concerned because there are no clear signs that the security situation is improving.
Regional repatriation efforts continue
Several African countries have also begun repatriating their citizens from South Africa as tensions continue to escalate.
The renewed protests gained momentum after fringe groups demanded that undocumented migrants leave the country by June 30. In several locations, demonstrations turned violent and resulted in attacks on foreign nationals.
South Africa’s Border Management Authority reported that more than 35,000 people have been repatriated or deported since June 7.
Meanwhile, organisations leading the campaign against illegal immigration argue that undocumented migrants contribute to unemployment and place additional pressure on public services.
However, many analysts maintain that South Africa’s economic and service delivery challenges stem primarily from longstanding governance and structural problems rather than migration alone.
Nigeria warns South Africa over attacks
The xenophobia evacuation flight programme also follows Nigeria’s warning that it could take further diplomatic action if attacks on its citizens continue.
On Sunday, Nigerian authorities said all available options remain under consideration should violence against Nigerians and their businesses fail to stop.
Officials have continued engaging South African authorities while seeking stronger protections for Nigerian nationals residing in the country.
The Federal Government has repeatedly emphasised the importance of ensuring that foreign nationals receive equal protection under the law regardless of their nationality.
As evacuation efforts continue, Nigerian authorities are encouraging citizens to make informed decisions about their safety. With additional flights scheduled and security concerns persisting, the government says it will continue supporting affected citizens while pressing South Africa to investigate attacks, protect foreign nationals, and hold perpetrators accountable.
