The Federal Government has concluded arrangements to receive the first batch of 268 Nigerians fleeing renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa, as fears grow over the safety of foreign nationals in the country.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is expected to personally welcome the returnees at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday morning.
The evacuees are scheduled to arrive aboard an Air Peace flight at about 5:00 a.m., marking the first phase of an emergency evacuation exercise initiated by the Federal Government.
Announcing the development on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the move demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they reside.
In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government disclosed that the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Pretoria, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, would accompany the returnees and formally hand them over to the minister upon arrival.
The ministry also revealed that the screening and registration exercise for Nigerians willing to voluntarily return home has been extended until Sunday, June 14, 2026, to accommodate more citizens affected by the attacks.
According to the statement, the evacuation exercise is part of the Federal Government’s citizen-centred foreign policy aimed at safeguarding the rights, dignity and welfare of Nigerians living abroad.
“The Federal Government remains committed to the protection and welfare of Nigerians overseas and will continue to take necessary steps to ensure their safety and well-being,” the ministry stated.
Authorities further assured that adequate reception, documentation and support mechanisms have been put in place through relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure the smooth reintegration of the returnees.
The government reiterated that protecting Nigerians in foreign countries remains a key responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a critical pillar of Nigeria’s diplomatic engagements.
The latest evacuation comes amid persistent reports of xenophobic attacks and growing hostility towards foreign nationals in parts of South Africa, forcing many Nigerians to seek urgent assistance to return home.
