Nigeria to repatriate 83 citizens from South Africa amid anti-foreigner attacks
Eighty-three Nigerians stranded in South Africa are expected to return to the country on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.
The returnees are scheduled to board a South African Airways flight from Oliver Tambo Airport, Johannesburg, at 3:35pm local time and arrive at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:45pm.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the repatriation was made possible through the intervention of private individuals who provided funds for the returnees’ air tickets.
The Federal Government expressed appreciation to the sponsors for their contribution to the humanitarian effort.
The latest return brings renewed attention to the situation of Nigerians in South Africa, where concerns over Afrophobia, anti-foreigner sentiments and attacks on African migrants have persisted.
It follows the government’s earlier voluntary repatriation exercise, under which nearly 1,490 Nigerians were brought back from South Africa.
The ministry said the Federal Government remained committed to protecting the welfare and dignity of Nigerians living abroad under President Bola Tinubu’s Citizen Diplomacy agenda.
It said Nigerians in the diaspora were regarded as important contributors to national development rather than a burden, adding that their safety and wellbeing remained a priority.
The ministry also urged the organised private sector, corporate organisations, state governments and Nigerians in the diaspora to support efforts aimed at assisting citizens facing consular emergencies.
It described the involvement of private individuals in the latest repatriation as an example of a “whole of society approach” to addressing challenges confronting Nigerians abroad.
The government further said it would continue engaging South African authorities and other host nations to tackle the causes of Afrophobia and prevent violence and discrimination against Nigerians.
It called for perpetrators of attacks against Nigerians to be held accountable, stressing that stronger partnerships were needed to ensure the safety and dignity of Nigerians living in South Africa.