The final group of voluntary Nigerian returnees from South Africa arrived safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, marking the successful conclusion of the federal government’s emergency evacuation program.
The chartered Air Peace flight, carrying 308 relieved citizens, touched down on the Lagos tarmac at exactly 11:30 a.m..
The 308 returnees comprise of 3 Nigerian officials and 305 Returnees.
This arrival completes the 7th batch of repatriated Nigerians since the voluntary evacuation initiative was launched on June 11, 2026, in response to escalating anti-immigrant tensions and security concerns in South Africa.
The multi-agency rescue operation, seamlessly executed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with Air Peace, has brought a grand total of 1,456 Nigerians back home.
Officials from the, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons
,NCFRMI Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) were on the ground to receive the returnees, offering immediate profiling, stipend support, and logistical assistance to help them reintegrate.
Speaking on the close of the mission, government representatives praised the partnership with the private sector, emphasizing that the safety of Nigerian citizens abroad remains an absolute priority.
