The Federal Government has announced that another group of Nigerians stranded in South Africa will be evacuated on Tuesday as renewed xenophobic attacks continue to endanger the lives of foreign nationals.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed the development in a statement shared on her official X account on Monday. She said the evacuation is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to bring home Nigerians who wish to return voluntarily.
According to the minister, another evacuation flight will depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to airlift more Nigerians back to the country.
The latest mission forms part of the Federal Government’s repatriation programme following the resurgence of anti-immigrant violence in South Africa. Since the exercise began last month, three batches of Nigerians have already been successfully evacuated, while the final evacuation flight is expected to reach South Africa on July 10.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to carefully assess the security situation and consider returning home if they believe their lives are at risk. She noted that President Bola Tinubu approved an extension of the evacuation exercise beyond its initial June 30 deadline to allow more citizens to benefit from the programme.
She also encouraged eligible Nigerians to take advantage of the government-sponsored flights, stressing that while lost businesses and property could be rebuilt, lives lost cannot be replaced.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, the minister assured citizens that every necessary measure would continue to be taken to safeguard their welfare.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further condemned the killing of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during the latest wave of xenophobic violence. She called on South African authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure those responsible are brought to justice.
Expressing concern over the worsening security situation, she stated that there were no clear signs of improvement, adding that Nigeria remained deeply worried about the safety of its citizens in South Africa.
The renewed anti-immigrant campaign has prompted several African countries to evacuate their nationals after pressure groups demanded that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by June 30. The campaign has sparked violent protests and clashes in several communities, with multiple foreign nationals reportedly killed.
According to South Africa’s Border Management Authority, more than 35,000 people have been repatriated or deported since June 7.
While organisers of the campaign blame illegal immigration for unemployment and poor public services, analysts argue that South Africa’s economic and social challenges stem largely from governance issues.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Government has warned that it may consider diplomatic measures against South Africa if attacks on Nigerians and their businesses continue, insisting that all available options remain under consideration should the violence persist.