By Taiwo Scholarstica
The Federal Government has evacuated 39 additional Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, aboard an emergency Air Peace flight arranged to bring home citizens who were unable to return during Thursday’s evacuation exercise.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday, explaining that the special flight was organised to ensure no stranded Nigerian was left behind.
She said, “39 Nigerian nationals are on a flight back from Johannesburg to Lagos on emergency travel arrangements facilitated by Air Peace in order to accommodate those unable to return on yesterday’s flight.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that the emergency operation was introduced to prevent disruptions to the already scheduled evacuation programme for Nigerians who completed their travel documentation within the required deadline.
She said, “This is to ensure that there is no interruption or spillover from the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation flights from South Africa, regarding our nationals who effected their documentation within the stipulated deadline.”
According to the minister, the aircraft is expected to land at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by 8:50 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026.
She also praised Air Peace for supporting the additional evacuation effort.
She said, “We wish to convey our appreciation for the management of Air Peace for their collaboration and facilitation of this additional exercise.”
The minister further revealed that the final evacuation flight under the ongoing exercise is expected next week and will bring back about 300 more Nigerians from South Africa.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians affected by the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
She said, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and protection of our nationals imperilled as a result of the xenophobic incidents that are ongoing in South Africa.”
On Thursday, the fourth batch of evacuees arrived in Nigeria with 287 citizens on board, including 272 adults and 12 infants. The operation experienced a setback after the initial aircraft scheduled for the mission was grounded when its windscreen reportedly shattered in Johannesburg. Air Peace subsequently deployed a replacement aircraft to complete the evacuation.
The Federal Government commenced the evacuation exercise on June 11, 2026, following renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests across South Africa that have claimed the lives of several Nigerians, including Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved an extension of the evacuation exercise beyond its original June 30 deadline to enable more Nigerians wishing to return home to be accommodated.