Third batch of distressed Nigerians arrived home through evacuation from South Africa

Photo credit: TVC News

The third batch of 271 Nigerian citizens voluntarily evacuated from South Africa successfully arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on June 30, 2026. This flight was part of the Nigerian government's emergency repatriation program following a wave of violent anti-immigration protests and tensions in South Africa.

Evacuation & Repatriation Breakdown:

Arrival Date: June 30, 2026

Returnees: 271 Nigerians

Departure Point: O.R. Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg

Arrival Point: Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos

Airline: Air Peace (coordinated by the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).

The repatriations were sparked by heightened xenophobic tensions and an anti-immigration deadline demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave South Africa.

Over 1,000 Nigerians registered for the voluntary return program. Previous batches brought around 324 returnees to Lagos.

According to the South African Department of Home Affairs, many of the evacuees were classified as undocumented. Consequently, many returnees have been declared undesirable and prohibited from re-entering South Africa for five years.

By Olagunju, Success Taiwo

Xenophobia: FG reveals date for next evacuation flight for Nigerians in South Africa

The Federal Government has confirmed that another batch of Nigerians will be evacuated from South Africa on Tuesday as it steps up efforts to protect citizens ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests expected to begin on June 30.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday and will return on Tuesday morning with Nigerians who opted to leave South Africa under the government’s voluntary evacuation programme.

Speaking to newsmen on Monday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the latest operation demonstrates the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of Nigerians amid growing fears of possible xenophobic attacks.

By Goli Innocent

Full story at The SUN NG

Fake: No reward for reporting undocumented foreign nationals - Home Affairs

The Department of Home Affairs has issued a warning over a fraudulent notice circulating online claiming that members of the public will be paid for reporting undocumented foreign nationals.

In a statement posted on its official X account, the department said the notice did not originate from Home Affairs or the Minister of Home Affairs, and is therefore fake.

This comes amid planned marches linked to immigration enforcement tensions ahead of Tuesday, June 30, with police confirming they are on standby and monitoring developments, although authorities have stressed that no official government directive ordering foreign nationals to leave the country by that date has been issued.

Full story at MSN

Multiple marches set to disrupt Joburg CBD on Friday, Saturday

Motorists in central Johannesburg have been urged to brace for major disruptions this weekend as multiple approved protest marches are set to take place across the CBD.

The Johannesburg metro police have confirmed that two separate demonstrations on Friday, led by Operation Dudula and the Vatsonga Machangani community, with an additional march planned for Saturday.

JMPD spokesperson Xolani Fihla said officers, together with the South African Police Service, will be deployed to monitor the gatherings and ensure public safety.

By Mmangaliso Khumalo

Full story at Jacaranda FM

66 more Nigerians evacuated from South Africa prior to 30th June, 2026.

Another batch of 66 stranded Nigerians arrived at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday night, June 24, 2026. This evacuation was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to protect citizens from renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant protests ahead of an approaching June 30 deadline.

Evacuation Details:

Total Returnees: 66 individuals (21 men, 45 women, and children).

Cumulative Repatriated: This second phase brings the total number of evacuated Nigerians to 324, following the first batch of 258 who arrived on June 11.

Travel: The latest airlift was facilitated by ValueJet in coordination with Nigerian diplomatic officials in South Africa, rather than the chartered Air Peace flights used previously.

On-Ground Support: Returnees received temporary accommodation, cash stipends for transportation, and communication support upon arrival.

Over 1,000 Nigerians have registered for voluntary repatriation due to rising security concerns and targeted anti-immigrant unrest. The upcoming June 30 deadline, set by local groups demanding all undocumented foreigners leave the country, has heavily accelerated the exit of migrants. Delays in subsequent flights previously sparked protests outside the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria by citizens seeking urgent assistance.

According to Statistics South Africa and the United Nations, the number of documented Nigerian nationals residing in the country is estimated at around 30,000.

The Nigerian Union South Africa has previously estimated that up to 800,000 Nigerians live in the country. This number includes unrecorded, unregistered, and undocumented immigrants, though demographers note it is a projection rather than an official census figure.

The exact total fluctuates as the Department of Home Affairs conducts ongoing border enforcement and voluntary repatriation efforts.

By Olagunju, Success Taiwo.

Inside Banana Island: How Nigeria’s Most Exclusive Neighborhood Became A Symbol Of African Wealth And Global Ambition

Inside Banana Island: How Nigeria’s Most Exclusive
Neighborhood Became A Symbol
Of African Wealth And Global Ambition

If you've got a keen interest in luxury real estate, you're probably already aware of booming markets like Calabasas, Beverly Hills and Palm Beach. While luxurious estates abound in each of these locales, many elite investors have been shifting their portfolios elsewhere. One such emerging market can be found on the shores of Lagos, Nigeria, on a small curved chunk of land. This ultra-exclusive enclave is Banana Island, a man-made settlement located within Nigeria's upscale Ikoyi district. First developed in the 1980s, Banana Island has quickly grown into one of the most prestigious real estate markets on the planet. Today, the region is synonymous with extraordinary wealth, elite business circles and the rapid rise of Africa's economic power.

Behind the tall gates and manicured streets of Banana Island, you'll find some of Nigeria's most influential entrepreneurs, executives, politicians and celebrities. International investors and homegrown Nigerian billionaires alike frequent the island in search of luxury living and a quiet retreat from public eyes. Those who live on the island retain status as part of an elite group, while the number of eager investors grows each year.

By TeeJay Small

Full story at Yahoo News