The Federal Government has concluded all diplomatic and logistical arrangements to bring home the fifth and final batch of 315 stranded Nigerians from South Africa on Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
This final air operation officially marks the end of the emergency repatriation exercise, which was launched in June to safeguard citizens following a volatile wave of renewed xenophobic violence and security threats targeting African migrants.
According to an official statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the evacuation flight—operated once again by Air Peace—is scheduled to depart O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The aircraft is expected to touch down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 6:30 a.m. local time.
“This last and fifth evacuation flight will bring home 315 of our nationals who voluntarily registered to return home after safety concerns peaked in parts of South Africa,” Ebienfa stated, confirming that the mission officially concludes the government-backed emergency airlift.
Prior to this final operation, the Federal Government, in collaboration with various agencies, had successfully executed four main evacuation flights, repatriating a total of 1,141 citizens. Private efforts also assisted in returning dozens of other affected Nigerians.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had previously extended the repatriation registration window to ensure all vulnerable Nigerians who felt their lives were at risk could be safely accounted for and processed.
As the final batch prepares to land in Lagos, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reiterated the administration’s unwavering commitment to defending the lives, dignity, and interests of Nigerians across the globe, while extending immense gratitude to Air Peace management and other local and international partners who worked around the clock to ensure the success of the mission.
Ayodele Quadri
Correspondent
