The Federal Government has announced that another 271 Nigerians affected by recent xenophobic tensions in South Africa will arrive in Lagos on Friday as evacuation efforts continue.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the latest batch is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 5:30 a.m. on July 3, 2026. The returnees are part of ongoing efforts to bring home Nigerians who voluntarily registered for evacuation.
The ministry said the latest arrival will bring the total number of evacuees to 593, following earlier flights conducted in June.
It recalled that the first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived on June 11 aboard a special Air Peace flight, while a second group of 269 returnees arrived on June 30. A further 66 evacuees were also flown back after a Nigerian philanthropist covered their travel costs during delays in the evacuation process.
Officials explained that logistical challenges had temporarily slowed down operations, leading to the accommodation of some Nigerians at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria before their return.
The ministry added that three additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days to repatriate about 700 more Nigerians who have already been screened and cleared.
It also dismissed allegations that officials demanded payment from evacuees, insisting that all evacuation flights are fully funded by the Federal Government and provided at no cost to returnees.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad, describing citizen protection as a key pillar of its foreign policy and pledging continued support for nationals affected by crises overseas.
