The Federal Government has evacuated an additional 39 Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, aboard a special Air Peace flight as part of its ongoing emergency repatriation exercise prompted by renewed xenophobic attacks.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed the development in a statement on Friday, explaining that the flight was arranged to accommodate Nigerians who were unable to return on Thursday’s evacuation flight.
“Thirty-nine Nigerian nationals are on a flight from Johannesburg to Lagos on emergency travel arrangements facilitated by Air Peace to accommodate those who could not return on yesterday’s flight,” the minister said.
She explained that the additional operation was organised to prevent disruptions to the scheduled evacuation programme for Nigerians who completed their travel documentation within the stipulated deadline.
“This is to ensure there is no interruption or spillover from the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation flights from South Africa involving our nationals who completed their documentation within the required timeframe,” she added.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the aircraft is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 8:50 p.m. on Friday.
The minister commended Air Peace for providing the additional flight, describing the airline’s support as crucial to the success of the evacuation exercise.
“We appreciate the management of Air Peace for their collaboration and for facilitating this additional evacuation operation,” she said.
She also disclosed that the final flight under the current evacuation programme, expected to bring home about 300 more Nigerians, is scheduled to arrive next week.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians affected by the ongoing xenophobic violence in South Africa.
“The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and protection of our citizens affected by the ongoing xenophobic incidents in South Africa,” she said.
On Thursday, the fourth batch of evacuees brought home 287 Nigerians, including 272 adults and 12 infants, after Air Peace deployed a replacement aircraft when the original plane was grounded in Johannesburg following damage to its windscreen.
The evacuation exercise began on June 11, 2026, in response to renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests across South Africa, which have claimed the lives of several Nigerians, including Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu.
President Tinubu had earlier approved an extension of the evacuation programme beyond its initial June 30 deadline to enable more stranded Nigerians to return home safely.
