Federal Government has facilitated the return of 33 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid renewed xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks targeting Africans in the country.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the latest batch comprised 17 adults and 16 minors who arrived in Nigeria aboard South African Airways flight SA060 at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16. The returnees were received by officials of the ministry, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons and other government agencies.
The latest evacuation was the 12th consular evacuation from South Africa since the exercise began on June 10, 2026, bringing the total number of Nigerians evacuated to 1,716.
The Federal Government fully funded the return of 1,388 Nigerians, representing about 81 percent of the total number evacuated under the exercise.
The latest batch was sponsored by the Private Nigerian Group of Business Friends and the Nigerian Lawyers Association in South Africa, which provided funds for their air tickets.
The government expressed concern over the continued xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa. It said the issue had been brought before the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The Federal Government also said it was considering further measures to secure greater cooperation from South African authorities in addressing the attacks and protecting the safety, security and dignity of Nigerians living in the country.
The Nigerian government had earlier commenced plans for the voluntary repatriation of citizens willing to leave South Africa following renewed attacks against foreign nationals. President Bola Tinubu had directed that evacuation flights be provided for Nigerians who wanted to return home.
Nigerians resident in South Africa have been urged to remain vigilant and law-abiding while maintaining contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for consular assistance when required.
The latest evacuation comes after the National Assembly last week suspended official visits to South Africa and directed lawmakers and officials to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by the country over the persistent attacks against Nigerians.
