No fewer than 83 Nigerians stranded in South Africa are expected to return home on Wednesday after private individuals funded their evacuation, months after the Federal Government repatriated nearly 1,490 Nigerians from the country amid renewed concerns over anti-foreigner sentiments and attacks.
The latest batch of returnees is scheduled to arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, aboard South African Airways.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuees are expected to depart Oliver Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, at 3:35 p.m. local time.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry said the evacuation was made possible through the intervention of public-spirited Nigerians who sponsored the returnees’ air tickets.
The development follows the conclusion of the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme, which brought almost 1,490 Nigerians back from South Africa.
The government had launched the exercise against the backdrop of renewed concerns over attacks, discrimination and anti-foreigner sentiments targeting African migrants, including Nigerians, in South Africa.
The ministry clarified that the latest evacuation was not a continuation of the concluded government-funded programme, but said the intervention demonstrated the value of public-private cooperation in responding to consular emergencies involving Nigerians abroad.
It commended the individuals and philanthropists who funded the tickets, describing their intervention as an example of the “whole of society approach” being promoted by the Federal Government.
The ministry also appealed to organised private-sector operators, corporate organisations, state governments and Nigerians at home and abroad to support similar humanitarian interventions.
According to the government, broader collaboration would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond swiftly to consular emergencies and assist citizens facing difficult circumstances outside the country.
The latest evacuation has also renewed attention to concerns over the treatment of African migrants in South Africa, where Nigerians have periodically faced xenophobic attacks, intimidation, discrimination and violence.
Nigeria and South Africa have maintained strong diplomatic and economic relations despite periodic tensions arising from attacks on foreign nationals and other bilateral issues.
The Federal Government said it would continue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to address the root causes of Afrophobia, prevent violence and discrimination against Nigerians and ensure that perpetrators of attacks are held accountable.
The position forms part of Nigeria’s broader Citizen Diplomacy agenda, under which the government maintains that the welfare, safety and dignity of Nigerians abroad remain priorities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also stressed that Nigerians in the diaspora should be viewed as contributors to national development rather than a burden.
It said the government remained committed to protecting Nigerians abroad while strengthening strategic partnerships with host countries, including South Africa.
The privately funded evacuation also underscores the growing role of non-governmental actors in supporting Nigerians caught in emergencies overseas, particularly where large-scale repatriation places substantial demands on diplomatic missions and public resources.
For the 83 returnees, the intervention provides a route home as the government continues diplomatic efforts to address the wider challenges confronting Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
The ministry described the sponsors’ intervention as an act of patriotism and selflessness and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to working with South African authorities to tackle Afrophobia, prevent attacks and promote accountability.
The returnees are expected to arrive in Lagos at approximately 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday, August 19, highlighting the continuing need for coordinated government, private-sector and community responses to consular emergencies involving Nigerians abroad.
