The Federal Government has completed arrangements for the final phase of its evacuation exercise for stranded Nigerians in South Africa, with 315 citizens expected to arrive in Lagos on Wednesday aboard an Air Peace flight.
The development was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the fifth and concluding evacuation flight is scheduled to depart Johannesburg at 1:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, and is expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 6:30 a.m.
The Air Peace-operated flight will officially conclude the Federal Government’s evacuation programme for Nigerians who expressed a desire to return home following recent xenophobic attacks and growing security concerns in parts of South Africa.
The evacuation exercise was initiated by the Federal Government in response to reports of attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians, prompting many affected citizens to seek assistance in returning home safely.
Before the final flight, the government had successfully carried out four separate evacuation operations, which brought hundreds of stranded Nigerians back to the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the exercise reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety, welfare and protection of Nigerians living abroad, particularly during periods of crisis.
It also commended all stakeholders whose contributions made the evacuation programme possible, including the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, Air Peace and other relevant agencies involved in coordinating the operation.
The ministry reiterated that the Federal Government remains committed to protecting the interests of Nigerians regardless of where they reside and will continue to respond appropriately whenever the safety of its citizens is threatened.
With the arrival of the final group of returnees, the government says the emergency evacuation programme from South Africa will come to an end after successfully transporting all registered Nigerians who requested assistance to return home.
