The Nigerian Government has evacuated another batch of 111 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, bringing the total number of returnees under the ongoing exercise to 2,037.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi disclosed this in a press statement.
According to the ministry, the returnees, comprising 44 men, 23 women and 44 children, arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways Flight SA060 on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
They were received by officials of 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 federal government agencies.
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Adeniyi said the evacuation was fully funded by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) through its $265,854 donation to support the repatriation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
He stated that the latest arrival brings the number of consular evacuations conducted since the exercise began on June 10, 2026, to 15, with 2,037 Nigerians evacuated so far. Of this number, 1,388 had their repatriation costs fully covered by the Federal Government.
The ministry’s spokesperson noted that the latest batch brings to 318 the number of Nigerians whose one-way tickets have been funded by the RCCG, leaving 182 tickets to be covered under the church’s commitment.
“The Federal Government, once again, expresses its profound appreciation to the RCCG, under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for its generous financial support towards the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to engaging relevant stakeholders, including South African authorities, to address xenophobia and Afrophobia and promote the safety, welfare and dignity of Nigerians living in the country.
The ministry also advised Nigerians in South Africa to comply with local laws, remain vigilant and prioritise their safety, and urged them to maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for consular assistance when necessary.
“The Federal Government remains steadfast in its commitment to providing timely consular support to Nigerians in the diaspora and safeguarding their welfare and well-being. “
