Xenophobia Crisis: Hundreds of Nigerians Yet to Be Evacuated from South Africa

Hundreds of Nigerians seeking to return home from South Africa amid renewed xenophobic tensions have been left stranded following delays in the Federal Government’s evacuation programme, the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has said.

The Federal Government had announced on June 7, 2026, that five chartered flights operated by Air Peace would evacuate Nigerians willing to return home following a wave of anti-immigrant protests and attacks in parts of South Africa.

The evacuation plan followed a screening exercise conducted by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in collaboration with South African authorities. Officials initially confirmed that more than 500 Nigerians had been cleared for evacuation, while later reports indicated that over 1,000 citizens registered for the voluntary repatriation programme.

Despite the announcement, only one evacuation flight has departed so far. The first batch of 258 Nigerians arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard an Air Peace aircraft, leaving hundreds of others still awaiting transportation back to Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its National President, Frank Onyekwelu, NICASA expressed concern over the plight of stranded Nigerians, many of whom travelled long distances from various provinces in South Africa after being instructed to report for registration and screening.

According to the association, numerous Nigerians, including women and children, have exhausted their resources and are now struggling to survive while waiting for updates on the remaining flights.

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“Many of these citizens travelled from distant provinces across South Africa after being instructed to report for registration and screening. Today, numerous families, including women and children, are stranded without shelter, food, transportation, or financial means to sustain themselves,” NICASA said.

The association warned that the situation is rapidly becoming a humanitarian crisis, with some Nigerians reportedly sleeping in difficult conditions after spending their savings on transportation and temporary accommodation.

NICASA appealed to the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, and other relevant agencies to urgently intervene and prevent further hardship for affected citizens.

The group specifically called for the immediate deployment of emergency assistance for stranded Nigerians, improved communication from government agencies, and the swift operation of the remaining four evacuation flights.

It also urged the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to strengthen engagement with community leaders and provide temporary welfare support to vulnerable Nigerians awaiting evacuation.

The delays come after earlier logistical and operational challenges affected the rollout of the repatriation exercise. Authorities had previously postponed the first evacuation flight due to regulatory and operational clearance issues before the programme eventually commenced.

When contacted on the latest situation, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said there was no fresh update on the remaining evacuation flights but assured that information would be provided once new developments emerge.

Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has reassured affected citizens that all registered Nigerians will be evacuated.

Speaking on the programme, NiDCOM’s Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, urged those awaiting evacuation to remain patient, stressing that the Federal Government is working to ensure the smooth completion of the repatriation exercise.

The commission had earlier confirmed that President Bola Tinubu approved and funded the evacuation programme as part of efforts to safeguard Nigerian citizens affected by the growing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

With hundreds of Nigerians still awaiting evacuation, pressure is mounting on authorities to expedite the process and address the worsening humanitarian conditions facing stranded citizens.

Xenophobia Crisis: Hundreds of Nigerians Yet to Be Evacuated from South Africa

Diezani Must Return to Nigeria, Face EFCC Cases — Laolu Akande

Former presidential spokesman Laolu Akande has urged former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to return to Nigeria and defend herself against pending corruption allegations and EFCC cases, despite her recent legal outcome in the United Kingdom.

Akande made the call during a monitored interview on Friday, describing the UK court’s decision as “exciting news,” but stressing that it does not end or override ongoing proceedings in Nigeria.

Akande said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) still has active cases involving Diezani, including court-ordered asset forfeitures linked to alleged proceeds of corruption. He maintained that while foreign court rulings may influence public perception, they do not conclude domestic legal processes, especially where Nigerian courts are still reviewing related matters. He argued that the former minister should return home and allow the Nigerian judiciary to fully determine the outstanding allegations, insisting that only a local court judgment can provide final closure.

He also revisited controversies surrounding Nigeria’s oil sector during Diezani’s tenure as petroleum minister, particularly the strategic alliance agreements involving the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC). Akande alleged that crude oil worth about $3 billion was sold under arrangements that did not involve proper payment of royalties or taxes. He added that these issues remain part of public records and investigations, though they are still subject to legal scrutiny and not fully resolved in court.

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He further claimed that documents reviewed during his time in government pointed to transactions involving Diezani and other individuals, adding that these matters require judicial determination in Nigeria.

Akande insisted that if Diezani believes the UK ruling supports her innocence, she should return to Nigeria and face the EFCC corruption trials to clear her name once and for all. He said allowing Nigerian courts to decide the pending cases would help resolve one of the country’s most high-profile corruption controversies and strengthen accountability in public service.

Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served under former President Goodluck Jonathan, has faced multiple corruption allegations in Nigeria and abroad since leaving office in 2015. She has consistently denied wrongdoing, while several asset recovery and forfeiture proceedings have been carried out by Nigerian authorities over the years.

Akande’s remarks have further intensified public debate over whether foreign court outcomes should influence domestic corruption cases involving former public officials.

Diezani Must Return to Nigeria, Face EFCC Cases — Laolu Akande

EFCC to Probe Adeyanju, VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Terror Financing, Funding Sources

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly set to begin a preliminary investigation into activist-lawyer Deji Adeyanju and social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse (VeryDarkMan) over allegations linked to terror financing claims, illicit funding channels, and suspected financial irregularities.

The development follows a petition submitted on June 17, 2026, by lawyer Blessing Agbomhere, which called on the EFCC to scrutinise the sources of funding behind their activism, public campaigns, legal interventions, and media engagements.

In the petition, Agbomhere urged the anti-graft agency to conduct a detailed review of the duo’s bank accounts, financial transactions, personal and associated business assets, sponsorship arrangements, and possible foreign or third-party inflows. He argued that while freedom of expression and public advocacy are constitutionally protected rights, the scale and visibility of their campaigns raise concerns that warrant regulatory examination.

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The petitioner further noted that, in some global cases, undisclosed funding structures have been used to influence public opinion or weaken institutions. Based on this, he urged authorities to determine whether any similar risks exist in relation to the individuals involved.

The petition also called on the EFCC to work alongside relevant security and intelligence agencies to assess whether any of the funds in question could pose a threat to national security.

While the EFCC has not confirmed any formal charges, reports suggest the agency is reviewing the petition and may commence preliminary financial investigations, which typically involve verifying claims, tracing financial flows, and assessing compliance with anti-money laundering laws and financial regulations.

At this stage, no indictment has been filed, and the allegations remain unproven.

Both Adeyanju and VeryDarkMan are prominent figures in Nigeria’s civic and digital activism space, known for their outspoken criticism of government policies and institutions. Their activities have often attracted both strong public support and controversy.

The petition itself clarified that it does not amount to an allegation of guilt but is intended to promote transparency and accountability. It added that if the EFCC finds all funding sources to be legitimate, it would help clear doubts and reinforce public trust in their activities.

EFCC to Probe Adeyanju, VeryDarkMan Over Alleged Terror Financing, Funding Sources