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

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