Federal Government Demands Protection For Nigerians In South Africa
The Federal Government on Tuesday reassured Nigerian citizens living in South Africa of their safety and well-being. To safeguard their ongoing interests, the government promised to maintain continuous, high-level diplomatic communication with South African authorities.
This safety guarantee was issued in Abuja by Kimiebi Ebienfa , the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs . The official statement coincided with the arrival of the second batch of Nigerian evacuees who were successfully repatriated from Johannesburg.
The evacuation coincides with the June 30, 2026, deadline imposed by South African authorities for undocumented foreigners to exit the country. This regulatory ultimatum prompted immediate repatriation efforts to ensure the safe return of affected citizens before enforcement actions began.
The second evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at 10:48 a.m. on Tuesday. According to Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the aircraft successfully transported 269 Nigerian returnees from Johannesburg.
This latest arrival brings the total number of recent evacuees to 335 individuals. The initial phase of the repatriation occurred on June 24, when a private citizen facilitated the return of 66 Nigerians aboard a South African Airways flight.
The statement noted that the 269 returnees were escorted by officials from the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and received in Lagos by a federal delegation led by Amb. Haruna Ali-Gombe, Director of the African Affairs Department.
“Ali-Gombe conveyed the heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Tinubu to the returning nationals, reaffirming the Federal Government’s steadfast commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerian nationals living outside the country,’’ Ebienfa said.
The spokesperson added that the voluntary repatriation exercise remains on course, with more flights expected in the coming days to evacuate other successfully screened and cleared Nigerian nationals.