By Gabriel Ameh
The Federal Government has approved five evacuation flights to bring Nigerians stranded in South Africa back home, following the successful screening and clearance of over 500 citizens.
This was disclosed on Sunday by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who confirmed that the evacuation process is already underway through Nigeria’s Mission in Pretoria.
According to the ministry, the screening exercise for Nigerians who indicated interest in returning home has been extended till Wednesday, June 10, 2026, to accommodate more applicants.
Ebienfa stated that President Bola Tinubu approved five evacuation flights to be operated by Air Peace, with the first batch expected to depart Johannesburg on Monday evening, subject to the necessary flight permits and operational clearances.
The first evacuation flight is expected to airlift about 270 passengers to Lagos, Nigeria.
“The departure time and estimated time of arrival in Lagos will be communicated once updates are received from the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa,” the statement added.
The development has sparked relief among many Nigerians awaiting evacuation, as authorities continue to coordinate logistics for the safe return of citizens.
