Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
A further 111 distressed Nigerian nationals have arrived in Lagos from South Africa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Thursday, 8 October 2026, as concerns persist over xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in the country.
The returnees touched down aboard South African Airways Flight SA060 and were received on arrival by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), 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.
The group comprised 44 men, 23 women and 44 children.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Olufemi Adeniyi, the evacuation of this latest batch was fully funded from a $265,854.00 donation made by the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) to support the repatriation of 500 distressed Nigerians from South Africa.
The arrival brings the total number of consular evacuations conducted from South Africa to fifteen since the exercise began on 10 June 2026. It also raises the cumulative number of Nigerian nationals evacuated from the country to 2,037, of whom 1,388 have had their repatriation costs fully covered by the Federal Government.
With the successful evacuation of this RCCG-funded batch, a total of 318 Nigerian nationals have now had their one-way tickets funded by the Church, leaving 182 more expected to be repatriated under RCCG’s commitment to fund 500 one-way tickets.
The Federal Government once again expressed 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.
It also reaffirmed its commitment to engaging relevant stakeholders, including the authorities in South Africa, to address xenophobia and Afrophobia in the country and to promote the welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerians residing there.
Nigerians in South Africa have been advised to continue complying with local laws, remain vigilant and prioritise their safety. They are also encouraged to maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the Consulate General in Johannesburg for consular assistance whenever needed.
The Federal Government said it remains steadfast in its commitment to providing timely consular support to Nigerians in the diaspora and safeguarding their welfare and well-being.
