Federal Govt Brings Home 83 Nigerians as Xenophobic Tensions Rise in South Africa

Scores of Nigerian citizens stranded in South Africa are returning home following an emergency evacuation initiative coordinated by the Federal Government to protect nationals from growing anti-immigrant hostility.

A batch of 83 Nigerians is scheduled to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on a direct flight from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. The evacuation was launched in response to renewed wave of xenophobic harassment, local anti-foreigner campaigns, and rising threats directed at foreign residents across several South African townships.

The rescue effort was made possible through a public-private partnership, with generous private donors stepping forward to cover the full airfare costs for the returnees. Commending the sponsors, diplomatic officials noted that such interventions highlight the critical role private citizens and corporate organizations play in supporting national emergency response efforts.

This latest operation builds on earlier government-led voluntary repatriation programs that successfully brought home nearly 1,500 Nigerians. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of citizens abroad, pledging to maintain diplomatic channels to address the root causes of xenophobic violence and ensure the protection of Nigerians living overseas.