Xenophobia: First batch of Nigerian evacuees to land at Lagos airport, Thursday 

…as FG funds emergency Air Peace flights

The first batch of Nigerian nationals fleeing a fresh wave of anti-foreigner hostility in South Africa is scheduled to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos at approximately 5:00 AM on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

The emergency repatriation exercise follows an intensifying cycle of attacks, harassment, and targeted shutdowns of foreign-owned enterprises across multiple South African municipal hubs.

The growing unrest has once again strained diplomatic and economic relations between the continent’s two largest powerhouses.

Tensions escalated sharply across South Africa after a loose coalition of citizen-led groups opposed to irregular migration issued a public ultimatum demanding that all undocumented foreign nationals vacate the country by June 30.

Although Pretoria has dismissed the deadline as unofficial, the pronouncement triggered immediate anxiety, prompting several African nations—including Ghana, Malawi, and Mozambique—to begin extracting their citizens.

A statement issued late Wednesday by Kimiebi Ebienfa, the Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  confirmed that the emergency air bridge has been fully funded by the Federal Government, meaning returnees are being repatriated at no personal cost.

According to official diplomatic sources, more than 1,000 Nigerians have registered their intent to return home.

To facilitate a smooth exit, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria successfully negotiated critical immigration waivers with South African authorities, ensuring that individuals with minor documentation issues are allowed to board rather than face immediate local detention.

“Mr. President has approved five evacuation flights that will be operated by Air Peace. The first flight is expected to leave OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday night. Upon arrival, the evacuees will undergo documentation and profiling procedures before being reunited with their families,” Kimiebi Ebienfa, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson

The latest emergency extraction reflects deep systemic issues within South Africa, where an unemployment rate exceeding 30 percent has historically fueled localized flare-ups against foreign workers and entrepreneurs.

While South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed his nation on Sunday to promise a tightening of official border security alongside increased workplace inspections, he strongly warned local groups against vigilantism.

However, the intervention has done little to calm fears on the ground, as groups carrying traditional weapons continue to march through industrial zones like Boksburg and Benoni, demanding the termination of foreign staff.

The recurring pattern of violence has tested the limits of Nigeria’s quiet diplomacy. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Foreign Affairs  indicated earlier this week that Nigeria is actively weighing retaliatory economic measures, a significant shift in posture given the massive footprint of South African corporate giants like MTN and MultiChoice within the Nigerian consumer market.