The federal government says another batch of Nigerians are scheduled to leave South Africa tomorrow amid the ongoing wave of xenophobic attacks.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this disclosure in a statement on her official X Twitter on Monday.
There will be another evacuation flight, Tuesday, 7th July to Johannesburg to bring our citizens home, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated.
The evacuation is the latest in the repatriation exercise by Nigerian officials as they seek the safety of their compatriots in South Africa.
Since the evacuation began last month, three groups of Nigerians have already returned home. The last evacuation flight is “expected to land in South Africa on July 10th”, the minister stated.
“Our Nationals are again advised to assess the risks on whether to stay or come back,” she said.
“Those Nigerians in South Africa who feel their lives are in danger should make use of the FG sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu told Nigerians in South Africa.
He said: “Following the earlier evacuations of our citizens in 3 separate operations, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, extended the Evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight having arrived in Nigeria on 3rd July 2026. “We strongly urge our citizens to make use of this extension and operate the aircraft to its full capacity. Geo Reference
But the minister denounced the murders of two Nigerians in South Africa and called on the authorities to “urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice”.
“There’s no sign of getting better,” she remarked.
“Nigeria remains worried about the safety of its citizens in South Africa given the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants and even more so after the deaths of 2 Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu in these unfortunate events,” the minister stated.
“For many still on the fence, they should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced but not lives lost,” she said.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria is committed to the safety and welfare of her citizens abroad and will put in place all necessary measures to protect them. Geographical Reference
Several African countries have repatriated their citizens from South Africa after fringe organisations started calling for all illegal migrants to go by June 30, a campaign which has seen violent protests and skirmishes resulting in the death of foreign nationals.
The Border Management Authority said that more than 35,000 have already been sent back or deported since 7 June.
Anti-illegal immigrant activists blame them for high unemployment and lack of services, severe societal problems that economists say are mostly the result of government failings.
Yesterday Nigeria warned action against South Africa saying “all options are on the table” if the repeated spate of attacks against its citizens and their interests in South Africa does not abate. Geographical Reference
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