Fourth Batch of Nigerians Evacuated From South Africa Arrives Lagos With 284 Returnees

The fourth batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight.

The flight, operated with a Boeing 777-200 aircraft, departed Johannesburg at about 1:50 p.m. Nigerian time and landed in Lagos at approximately 8:15 p.m. on Thursday.

A total of 284 persons were on board, comprising 282 returnees and two Nigerian officials who accompanied them from South Africa.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier announced the departure of the returnees.

“The fourth evacuation flight, conveying our nationals back from South Africa following xenophobic protests and attacks ongoing in that country, departed Oliver Tambo International Airport at 2:50 pm South African time today, July 9, 2026,” she said.

She noted that an Air Peace aircraft earlier scheduled to evacuate the batch was unable to operate after its windshield reportedly shattered in Johannesburg. “Air Peace swiftly deployed a replacement aircraft to facilitate this operation,” she added.

The returnees were received by representatives of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigeria Immigration Service, as well as delegations from the Edo and Imo State governments.

South-West Zonal Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Alex Oturu, announced that every returnee would receive a SIM card preloaded with N50,000 airtime, courtesy of MTN.

He disclosed that each evacuee would also have a Moniepoint account opened for them through which they would receive N100,000 as immediate financial support.

“We are working together with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, the National Directorate of Employment, the Industrial Training Fund and other government agencies to ensure every returnee is integrated into a specific reintegration programme,” Oturu said.

Representing the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Head of Legal Services, Dipo Odebowale, said the evacuation was approved by President Bola Tinubu.

“This is an initiative of the Federal Government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who graciously approved the return of our stranded compatriots from South Africa. We will continue until everybody is brought back home,” Odebowale said.

Deputy Consul-General at the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, Daniel Onoriode Babagba, who accompanied the returnees, said the evacuation became necessary because many Nigerians had suffered attacks, destruction of businesses and growing insecurity.

“It is really on the high side. Our people have suffered attacks, looting of their shops and destruction of their businesses,” he said.

He added that Nigerian officials had formally requested compensation from the South African authorities for Nigerians whose properties were destroyed during the attacks.

According to him, official records indicated that at least two Nigerians had been killed, while many others sustained injuries during the violence.