FG TO RECEIVE 268 EVACUATED NIGERIANS FROM SOUTH AFRICA AMID XENOPHOBIC ATTACKS

The Federal Government is set to receive the first batch of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Thursday, June 11, 2026, aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight. The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, is expected to receive them on behalf of the Federal Government.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the screening exercise being conducted by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria for citizens willing to voluntarily return home has been extended until Sunday, June 14, 2026, to accommodate more affected Nigerians.
The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, is expected to accompany the first batch of evacuees on the flight scheduled to arrive at 5:00 a.m.
The Ministry said adequate reception, documentation, and support arrangements have been put in place in collaboration with relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to ensure the returnees are properly attended to.
It reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, describing the safety of citizens overseas as a key component of the country’s foreign policy.