FG to Evacuate Over 742 Nigerians from South Africa Before June 30
…Says No Nigerian Will Be Left Behind Amid Anti-Migrant Attacks
The Federal Government has assured that all Nigerians who have indicated interest in returning home from South Africa following a wave of anti-migrant attacks will be evacuated before the June 30 deadline.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance in a statement issued on Thursday by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze.
She said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to the safety, welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, stressing that no citizen willing to return from South Africa would be abandoned.
According to the minister, the evacuation process is already underway, with the first batch of 258 Nigerians successfully airlifted from South Africa and received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 11.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that about 1,000 Nigerians had registered for evacuation, adding that arrangements were being finalized to bring home the remaining citizens before the end of the month. This leaves more than 742 Nigerians expected to be evacuated in the coming days.
She revealed that President Tinubu had directed relevant authorities to ensure the safe and timely return of Nigerians facing harassment and insecurity in South Africa who had voluntarily opted to return home.
The minister noted that the President remains deeply concerned by reports of discrimination, intimidation and attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants residing in South Africa.
She explained that the Nigerian government continues to engage South African authorities through diplomatic channels while exploring lawful and constitutional options to address the situation.
“When it comes to situations like this, it is necessary to be temperate and exercise caution. But when your citizens are being harassed, people who have spent years there, some of whom are married to South Africans and have children who know no other home but South Africa, then it becomes a serious concern,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed particular concern over reports that not only Nigerians but also their South African spouses and children were being pressured to leave the country.
The minister also questioned what she described as the disparity in treatment between Nigerians in South Africa and South African businesses operating freely in Nigeria.
She noted that more than 120 South African companies currently operate in Nigeria across various sectors without facing discrimination or harassment.
“Nobody is asking South African staff working in Nigeria to prove their identity or taking over their businesses. Yet Nigerians in South Africa are facing these challenges. At some point, we have to review the options available to us,” she said.
She cited major South African investments in Nigeria, including telecommunications, banking, hospitality and entertainment businesses, as examples of the strong economic ties between both countries.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that the activities of anti-migrant vigilante groups were not only threatening lives and livelihoods but also damaging South Africa’s international reputation.
According to her, the country’s image as a symbol of pan-African solidarity, championed by the late anti-apartheid icon, Nelson Mandela, is being undermined by recurring incidents of xenophobic violence.
She noted that the growing perception of South Africa as a hostile environment for migrants has already begun affecting tourism, conferences and other international engagements in the country.
The minister further disclosed that South African authorities had yet to activate a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Nigeria in October 2025 on an early warning mechanism designed to protect the lives and property of citizens of both countries during periods of tension.
According to her, South Africa later argued that officials who signed the agreement on its behalf lacked the authority to make it legally binding and that additional procedures were required before implementation.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that countries such as Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have also commenced evacuating their nationals from South Africa as concerns over the attacks continue to mount.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safety and dignity of Nigerians abroad while pursuing diplomatic solutions to the crisis.