Federal Government Assures Evacuation of Nigerians in South Africa
The Federal Government has pledged to evacuate all Nigerians residing in South Africa who wish to return home by the June 30 deadline, amidst ongoing anti-immigrant violence in the country. This assurance was made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, in a press statement released on Thursday and signed by Special Assistant on Communications and New Media, Mr. Magnus Eze.
Odumegwu Ojukwu emphasized the Tinubu administration’s dedication to ensuring the safety and welfare of Nigerians abroad. She underscored that no citizen expressing a desire to return from South Africa would be left behind during the evacuation process.
The evacuation initiative is already in progress, with the first group of 258 Nigerians successfully airlifted from South Africa. They were welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaye, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 11. Approximately 1,000 Nigerians have registered for evacuation, and plans are underway to facilitate the safe return of the remaining nationals.
More than 742 Nigerians are anticipated to be evacuated in subsequent flights. Odumegwu Ojukwu stated that President Bola Tinubu has instructed her to promptly assist any Nigerians facing danger and harassment in South Africa who voluntarily choose to come back home.
Addressing the ongoing situation, the Foreign Affairs Minister expressed alarm regarding reports of discrimination and violence against Nigerians and other African migrants. She noted that Nigeria is actively engaging with South African authorities through diplomatic channels to explore legal avenues for addressing these issues.
Odumegwu Ojukwu emphasized the need for restraint in such volatile situations but highlighted that harassment of Nigerian citizens poses a significant concern, especially given that some individuals affected are married to South Africans and have children who have been raised there.
The Minister also criticized prominent companies like MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic, and Protea Hotels for their unequal treatment of Nigerians relative to South African firms operating in Nigeria. Additionally, she remarked that the activities of anti-immigrant vigilantes are damaging South Africa’s reputation and undermining its global image as a symbol of post-apartheid pan-African unity.
Furthermore, Odumegwu Ojukwu stated that South African authorities have not activated the Memorandum of Understanding on Early Warning Mechanism signed with Nigeria in October 2025, which aims to protect the public during periods of heightened tension, citing procedural challenges. Other countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, have already begun evacuating their nationals from South Africa due to increasing security concerns.
It is noteworthy that at least 270 Nigerians have already returned to Lagos in June as part of the initial wave of evacuees from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks.
