By Favour Ulebor
The Federal Government has evacuated another batch of 111 distressed Nigerians from South Africa amid concerns over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the returnees arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways (SAA) Flight SA060 on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
The ministry said the returnees comprised 44 men, 23 women and 44 children.
They were received by officials of the ministry, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant Federal Government agencies.
According to the statement, the evacuation was fully funded by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), through its $265,854 donation to support the evacuation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The ministry said the latest exercise brought the total number of consular evacuations from South Africa to 15 since the ongoing operation began on June 10, 2026.
It added that the cumulative number of Nigerians evacuated from the country had risen to 2,037, with 1,388 having their repatriation costs fully covered by the Federal Government.
The statement further disclosed that 318 Nigerians had so far benefited from one-way tickets funded by the RCCG, leaving 182 more tickets to be funded under the church’s commitment to support the evacuation of 500 Nigerians.
The statement in parts, “With the successful evacuation of this RCCG-funded batch, a total of 318 Nigerian nationals have had their one-way tickets funded by the Church. Therefore, 182 more nationals are expected to be repatriated under RCCG’s commitment to fund 500 one-way tickets.
“The Federal Government, once again, expresses its profound appreciation to the RCCG, under the leadership of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, for its generous financial support towards the evacuation of distressed Nigerians from South Africa.”
The government, according to the statement, remains committed to engaging relevant stakeholders, including South African authorities, to address xenophobia and Afrophobia and promote the welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerians residing in the country.
The ministry advised Nigerians in South Africa to comply with local laws, remain vigilant and prioritise their safety.
It also urged them to stay in contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for consular assistance when needed.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to providing timely consular support to Nigerians in the diaspora and safeguarding their welfare and well-being.
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