ABUJA, Nigeria — The Federal Government has assured Nigerians residing in South Africa that evacuation arrangements will be completed before the June 30 deadline for citizens who have opted to return home amid ongoing anti-migrant tensions in the country.
According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the evacuation exercise is already underway, with coordination efforts focused on ensuring that all registered Nigerians are safely returned without delay. She disclosed that about 1,000 Nigerians have registered for evacuation, while the first batch of 258 returnees has already been airlifted and received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 11.
The minister reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to the safety and welfare of Nigerians abroad, stressing that no citizen who has registered for voluntary evacuation would be left behind. President Tinubu had directed that Nigerians facing danger, intimidation and harassment in South Africa who voluntarily wish to return home should be assisted without delay.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed concern over reports of discrimination and attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants. She said Nigeria was engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels while exploring lawful measures to address the situation. “When it comes to situations like this, of course, it is necessary to be temperate and exercise caution. But when your citizens are being harassed… then it becomes a serious concern,” she said.
She noted that some of the affected Nigerians are married to South Africans and have children who were born and raised in the country, making the situation particularly complex and distressing for families caught in the middle of the tensions.
The minister also criticized what she described as the unequal treatment of Nigerians, pointing out that South African companies such as MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic and Protea Hotels continue to operate successfully in Nigeria. She argued that the activities of anti-migrant vigilante groups were damaging South Africa’s international reputation and weakening its image as a post-apartheid symbol of pan-African solidarity.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that South African authorities had declined to activate an Early Warning Mechanism Memorandum of Understanding signed with Nigeria in October 2025, which was designed to protect citizens during periods of heightened tension, citing procedural concerns. According to her, several African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, have also begun evacuating their nationals from South Africa due to growing security concerns.
The minister added that the government is working through diplomatic channels with South African authorities while continuing efforts to bring back remaining citizens in subsequent batches before the deadline. This means that more than 742 Nigerians are expected to return to Nigeria in subsequent batches.
Earlier this month, at least 270 Nigerians arrived in Lagos as the first batch of returnees following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Nigerian government has continued to monitor the situation closely and provide support to affected citizens. For now, the evacuation exercise remains a top priority as the June 30 deadline approaches.
