The Federal Government has evacuated another batch of 105 distressed Nigerians from South Africa following reported xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, on Saturday.
The returnees, comprising 82 adults and 23 children, arrived in Lagos aboard South African Airways Flight SA060 at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday.
They were received by officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the National Emergency Management Agency and other relevant government agencies.
The ministry said the latest evacuation was the 13th consular evacuation from South Africa since the exercise began on June 10, 2026.
With the latest batch, the total number of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has risen to 1,821, including 1,388 whose evacuation was fully funded by the Federal Government.
According to the ministry, the evacuation of 100 of the latest 105 returnees was funded from a $265,854 donation by the Redeemed Christian Church of God to support the purchase of one-way tickets for 500 distressed Nigerians in South Africa.
The remaining five returnees were evacuated through a donation from a private Nigerian citizen.
The ministry said Nigeria's diplomatic mission in South Africa was continuing discussions with the RCCG leadership and other philanthropic organisations and individuals to facilitate the evacuation of additional distressed Nigerians.
The Federal Government expressed concern over what it described as persistent xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
It said it remained committed to diplomatic efforts aimed at securing the cooperation of South African authorities in addressing the situation and protecting the safety, rights and dignity of Nigerians living in the country.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Union in South Africa has advised Nigerians living in the country to remain vigilant ahead of demonstrations announced for September 30 by the March and March movement.
The union urged Nigerians to avoid areas where protests and large gatherings are expected, refrain from confrontations and ensure that their passports, permits, visas and other immigration documents are valid and safely kept.
The President-General of NUSA, Dr Smart Nwobi, also urged Nigerians to comply with lawful instructions from South African security agencies and report threats, attacks, intimidation or suspicious activities to the appropriate authorities.
He cautioned Nigerians against responding to provocation with violence, stressing that such actions could put individuals, families and the wider Nigerian community at risk.
NUSA also warned Nigerians against spreading unverified videos, voice notes and messages that could cause panic.
The union said it would continue monitoring developments and working with Nigerian diplomatic missions and South African authorities to promote the safety of Nigerians and support peaceful resolution of the concerns surrounding undocumented immigration and xenophobia.
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