Xenophobia: More Nigerians to Return From South Africa - 1,695 Already Evacuated as Fresh Concerns Mount

BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

More Nigerians are expected to return to the country from South Africa this week amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians and other foreign nationals in the southern African country.

Sources familiar with the development told Vanguard on Wednesday night that another batch of Nigerians was expected to arrive in Nigeria as part of ongoing efforts to assist citizens who feel unsafe or are unable to continue living and doing business in South Africa.

The latest development comes against the backdrop of a renewed wave of anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa and follows several rounds of voluntary evacuation of Nigerians organised or facilitated by the Federal Government.

The Nigerian government has so far evacuated 1,695 Nigerians from South Africa in 2026, according to figures disclosed by Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Ajayi Alexander.

The Federal Government had earlier confirmed that 1,490 Nigerians had been evacuated in several phases by July 15, following sustained xenophobic attacks and security concerns. The evacuation flights were operated with the assistance of Air Peace and South African Airways.

The latest returns would therefore add to an already substantial number of Nigerians who have left South Africa since the latest wave of anti-immigrant violence began.

Fresh concerns over safety

The renewed evacuation effort reflects continuing anxiety among Nigerians resident in South Africa, particularly those living and operating businesses in areas affected by anti-immigrant protests and attacks.

The current crisis escalated after anti-migrant groups and vigilante formations began demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa. The tensions triggered protests and attacks in parts of the country, raising concerns among Nigeria and other African countries over the safety of their nationals.

Nigeria subsequently commenced a voluntary evacuation programme for citizens who wished to leave.

The first batch arrived in Lagos in June, with 258 Nigerians brought home aboard an Air Peace flight arranged under the Federal Government’s evacuation programme.

Further flights followed in June and July, bringing home hundreds of Nigerians, including women and children.

By July 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a total of 1,490 Nigerians had been evacuated through seven flights involving Air Peace and South African Airways.

The government subsequently continued to facilitate the return of Nigerians who remained vulnerable or stranded.

83 Nigerians return in August

In August, another 83 Nigerians returned from South Africa, with their tickets reportedly procured through the intervention of private individuals.

The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg and were received by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The development demonstrated that the return of Nigerians had continued beyond the initial government-funded evacuation flights.

More recently, Nigerian professionals in Johannesburg also intervened to help stranded Nigerians return home.

The Group of Nigerian Professionals Johannesburg reportedly purchased air tickets for 12 stranded Nigerians who had been unable to join an earlier Federal Government-sponsored evacuation flight.

Parliament suspends South Africa engagements

The worsening security concerns have also affected official relations between the two countries.

Nigeria’s National Assembly recently suspended official visits and legislative participation in South Africa because of concerns over continuing anti-migrant violence targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.

The decision was reported against the backdrop of figures indicating that 98 Nigerians had died in mob and hate-related incidents in South Africa since 2022, according to information cited by Reuters.

The report also put the number of Nigerians voluntarily evacuated from South Africa in 2026 at 1,695.

The parliamentary action underscores the extent to which the latest xenophobic attacks have strained relations between Nigeria and South Africa.

However, the measure does not amount to a suspension of diplomatic relations between both countries, and the Federal Government has continued to engage South African authorities through diplomatic channels.

FG: Nigerians’ safety remains priority

The Federal Government has repeatedly said the protection and welfare of Nigerians abroad remain central to its foreign policy.

In July, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation programme followed sustained engagement with the South African Government and was designed to respond to security concerns arising from xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

The ministry said the evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in conjunction with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other relevant agencies.

The government also stressed that the evacuation was voluntary and targeted Nigerians who had registered and been screened for the exercise.

Earlier, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Federal Government would fully fund the initial evacuation exercise, with returnees brought home at no cost to them.

South Africa tensions

The latest crisis has once again brought the long-running issue of xenophobia in South Africa to the forefront of Nigeria-South Africa relations.

Nigeria has consistently expressed concern over attacks against its citizens in South Africa, while South African authorities have also condemned violence against foreign nationals.

The issue is particularly sensitive because of the extensive economic and people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Thousands of Nigerians live, work and operate businesses in South Africa, while South African companies maintain significant commercial interests in Nigeria.

The two countries have historically maintained close diplomatic and economic relations, despite periodic tensions arising from attacks on foreign nationals, immigration disputes and other bilateral issues.

The latest evacuation exercise therefore presents another challenge for both governments as they seek to balance the protection of citizens with the preservation of bilateral relations.

More Nigerians may return

With sources indicating that another group of Nigerians is expected to return this week, attention is now focused on the number of people involved and whether further evacuation flights will be required.

The Federal Government has not, at the time of filing this report, publicly disclosed the precise number expected in the latest batch.

The development, however, suggests that the security concerns that triggered the evacuation programme have not completely abated.

For Nigerians still living in South Africa, the authorities have continued to advise citizens to remain vigilant, comply with local laws and maintain contact with Nigerian diplomatic missions for assistance when necessary.

The Nigerian government has also maintained that it will continue diplomatic engagement with Pretoria to seek improved protection for Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

As another group prepares to return home, the continuing departures highlight the human cost of the renewed xenophobic tensions and place renewed pressure on both Nigeria and South Africa to address the security concerns affecting foreign nationals while preserving their longstanding bilateral relationship.

I can also turn this into a stronger front-page/Vanguard-style version, with a more dramatic intro, a tighter headline/deck and additional background on the 1,695 Nigerians already evacuated and the 98 reported deaths since 2022.