By Emmanuel Onyedika
The Federal Government has announced that the final evacuation flight for Nigerians stranded in South Africa will arrive Lagos on Wednesday, bringing home 315 returnees.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa. According to the ministry, the last evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace, departed Johannesburg in the early hours of Wednesday.
“The last and fifth evacuation flight from South Africa operated by Air Peace is expected to depart Johannesburg with 315 returnees on Wednesday 15th July 2026 at 1.30am,” the statement said.
The aircraft is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 6:30 a.m. “The estimated time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos is 6.30am,” the ministry added.
It would be recalled that as of July 2026, over one thousand Nigerians have been evacuated from South Africa. A breakdown of the evacuation shows 258 Nigerians in the first batch arrived Lagos on June 11, 2026 aboard Air Peace; 66 Nigerians in the second batch on June 24; 269 Nigerians in the third batch on June 30; and 268 Nigerians in the fourth batch on July 3, 2026.
The evacuations followed weeks of anti-immigrant protests in South Africa targeting undocumented migrants. The South African government reported several foreigners, including Nigerians, killed and immigrant businesses looted or set on fire.