The Federal Government has evacuated an additional 39 Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, on an emergency Air Peace flight arranged for nationals who could not return on Thursday’s scheduled evacuation.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the extra flight was organised to accommodate affected citizens without disrupting the ongoing evacuation programme.
“Thirty-nine Nigerian nationals are on a flight back from Johannesburg to Lagos on emergency travel arrangements facilitated by Air Peace in order to accommodate those unable to return on yesterday’s flight,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the additional arrangement was made to prevent delays or disruptions to the pre-scheduled evacuation flights for Nigerians who completed their documentation within the required timeframe.
“This is to ensure that there is no interruption or spillover from the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation flights from South Africa regarding our nationals who effected their documentation within the stipulated deadline,” she added.
The minister said the flight was expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, July 10, 2026, at 8:50pm.
She commended Air Peace for supporting the additional evacuation exercise.
“We wish to convey our appreciation to the management of Air Peace for their collaboration and facilitation of this additional exercise,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that the final flight under the exercise, expected to bring back about 300 more Nigerians, would arrive in the country next week.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant tensions 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 nationals imperilled as a result of the xenophobic incidents that are ongoing in South Africa,” she said.
Thursday’s evacuation flight, the fourth batch under the exercise, brought back 287 Nigerians, comprising 272 adults and 12 infants. The operation was earlier affected after an aircraft was grounded in Johannesburg following reported windscreen damage, prompting Air Peace to deploy a replacement aircraft.
The evacuation exercise began on June 11, 2026, following renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests in parts of South Africa, which reportedly led to the deaths of several Nigerians, including Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved an extension of the exercise beyond its initial June 30 deadline to allow more Nigerians wishing to return home to participate.
