The Federal Government has facilitated the evacuation of 39 additional Nigerians from Johannesburg, South Africa, aboard a special Air Peace flight.
The emergency operation was organised to transport citizens who were unable to return on Thursday’s earlier evacuation flight.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Friday.
She said, “39 Nigerian nationals are on a flight back from Johannesburg to Lagos on emergency travel arrangements facilitated by Air Peace in order to accommodate those unable to return on yesterday’s flight.”
She said, “This is to ensure that there is no interruption or spillover from the ongoing pre-scheduled evacuation flights from South Africa, regarding our nationals who effected their documentation within the stipulated deadline.”
According to the minister, the flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, 10 July 2026, at 8.50pm.
She commended the airline for facilitating the additional operation.
She said, “We wish to convey our appreciation for the management of Air Peace for their collaboration and facilitation of this additional exercise.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that the last flight under the exercise, expected to bring home about 300 more Nigerians, would arrive in the country next week.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the safety of Nigerians in South Africa.
She said, “The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and protection of our nationals imperilled as a result of the xenophobic incidents that are ongoing in South Africa.”
According to reports, the fourth batch under the exercise, conveyed 287 Nigerians, comprising 272 adults and 12 infants, after an earlier aircraft was grounded when its windscreen reportedly shattered in Johannesburg.
Air Peace deployed a replacement aircraft to complete that operation.
