The Federal Government has evacuated another 111 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid continuing concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, bringing the total number of Nigerians repatriated through consular evacuation exercises since June 2026 to 2,037.
The latest group arrived in Lagos on Thursday, October 8, aboard South African Airways Flight SA060. The returnees comprised 44 men, 23 women and 44 children, according to the information provided by the Federal Government.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies received the returnees upon arrival.
The evacuation was funded through a $265,854 donation from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), provided to support the return of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
With the latest arrival, 318 Nigerians have benefited from the church-funded initiative, leaving another 182 people to be repatriated under the commitment.
The Federal Government said the latest exercise brings the total number of consular evacuations from South Africa to 15 since the programme began on June 10, 2026. Of the 2,037 Nigerians evacuated during this period, 1,388 had their evacuation expenses fully covered by the Federal Government.
The RCCG’s financial support has therefore provided an additional source of assistance for Nigerians seeking to return home, helping the government extend evacuation support to more people facing difficulties abroad.
The Federal Government expressed appreciation to the church and its General Overseer, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, for the donation. The contribution was acknowledged as support for efforts to assist distressed citizens and facilitate their safe return to Nigeria.
Beyond the evacuation exercise, the government reaffirmed its commitment to engaging South African authorities over concerns surrounding xenophobia and Afrophobia. Such engagement is aimed at addressing the treatment and safety of Nigerians living in South Africa while maintaining diplomatic communication between both countries.
Nigerians residing in South Africa were also advised to obey local laws, remain vigilant and maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg whenever consular assistance is required.
The advisory highlights the importance of communication with Nigerian diplomatic missions, particularly for citizens who may encounter security threats or require official support while abroad.
Although the latest evacuation has brought another group of distressed Nigerians home, the remaining 182 people covered by the RCCG’s commitment are still expected to benefit from the initiative.
The government’s continuing engagement with South African authorities, alongside consular assistance and evacuation arrangements, will remain important to addressing the concerns of Nigerians affected by the situation.
