Amanze Chinonye
The Federal Government has evacuated 271 Nigerian nationals from South Africa on an Air Peace flight that landed in Lagos on Tuesday morning, amid renewed xenophobic tensions and reported anti-immigrant threats in parts of the country, Prime Business Africa reports.
According to Information obtained exclusively by Prime Business Africa the returnees were deboarding from the aircraft at the time of filing this report.
The Boeing 777-200 series aircraft, with a capacity of 274 passengers, conveyed the 271 evacuees as part of an ongoing emergency evacuation exercise ordered by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following rising insecurity concerns affecting Nigerians in South Africa.
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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier confirmed that the latest evacuation flight was part of a broader government intervention responding to what authorities described as unceasing xenophobic protests and threats targeting foreign nationals.
According to official briefings, the Federal Government had previously approved the evacuation of 66 Nigerians, mostly women and children in vulnerable conditions, who arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on 24 June 2026.
The latest operation, however, saw a significantly larger group of 271 returnees disembark upon arrival in Lagos after being airlifted from Johannesburg earlier in the day.
Government agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), are on ground at the airport to coordinate reception procedures, including documentation, health screening, and profiling of the returnees.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
