The most recent repatriation flight, which transported 266 Nigerian returnees from South Africa, successfully landed at the Muritala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos on the morning of Friday, July 3, 2026. This special charter flight, funded by the government, was operated by Air Peace Airlines and took off from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 5:36 a.m. The evacuation was initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in response to the rising anti-migrant violence and protests directed at black foreign nationals in South Africa. Vigilante and anti-migrant groups in the country had imposed a deadline of June 30, 2026, for undocumented foreigners to exit. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, confirmed that evacuation efforts will persist beyond this date to safeguard at-risk citizens. This flight represents the third government-funded operation (and the fourth overall batch) in the ongoing evacuation initiative, with nearly 600 citizens successfully repatriated thus far. Officials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the Nigeria Immigration Service were present to receive the evacuees, who are currently undergoing profiling, medical assessments, and arrangements for onward transportation. The Federal Government has financed additional flights to facilitate the return of remaining citizens who have voluntarily registered for repatriation. Furthermore, several countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, have also evacuated or repatriated their citizens from South Africa in light of the recent surge in violent anti-immigrant protests and threats. Although no nation has officially responded with military action or direct economic sanctions, various African states have lodged formal diplomatic protests and issued travel advisories. The unrest, primarily driven by high unemployment rates and anti-migrant rhetoric, led to protests targeting foreign nationals and their businesses in major South African cities. The diplomatic reactions from governments to this unrest have varied significantly. In the meantime, the South African government, under the leadership of President Cyril Ramaphosa, has openly denounced the actions of vigilantes, cautioned citizens against taking the law into their own hands, and emphasized that anti-immigrant ultimatums do not represent state policy.
