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.