The Federal Government has evacuated a third batch of Nigerians from South Africa, with the latest group arriving safely in Lagos on Tuesday as authorities continued efforts to bring home citizens seeking to leave the country following renewed anti-immigration protests and fears of xenophobic violence.
The returnees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight under the Federal Government’s voluntary evacuation programme. Government officials received the passengers on arrival as immigration, health and emergency officials coordinated the reception process.
The latest evacuation follows two earlier flights that brought hundreds of Nigerians back home after the Federal Government approved an emergency repatriation programme in response to growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa. Authorities have said additional evacuations will continue for citizens who have registered to return voluntarily.
Officials said arrangements are being made to support the returnees after their arrival, including documentation, medical screening where necessary and referrals to relevant government agencies for reintegration assistance. Nigerians who remain in South Africa but no longer feel safe have also been encouraged to register with the Nigerian High Commission for possible evacuation.
The evacuation exercise was launched after renewed anti-immigration demonstrations in parts of South Africa heightened fears among foreign nationals. Although many of the protests have centred on unemployment, crime and illegal immigration, migrants from several African countries, including Nigeria, have often found themselves caught in the middle of the unrest.
South African authorities have repeatedly condemned xenophobic violence, insisting that criminal attacks against foreign nationals do not reflect government policy. Officials have said security agencies have been deployed to affected communities and pledged to investigate and prosecute anyone responsible for violence, intimidation or looting. Despite those assurances, many migrants say they no longer feel safe remaining in the country.
According to Nigerian authorities, more than 1,000 citizens indicated interest in returning home after tensions escalated. While some had lived in South Africa for years, many reportedly decided to leave after businesses were threatened, neighbourhoods became unsafe and fears of further attacks intensified.
The latest evacuation once again highlights a long-running challenge that has strained relations between Nigeria and South Africa. Over the past two decades, South Africa has witnessed repeated outbreaks of xenophobic violence, with foreign nationals from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Ethiopia, Somalia and other African countries frequently targeted during periods of economic hardship and rising unemployment.
Major attacks in 2008 left more than 60 people dead and displaced thousands. Fresh waves of violence in 2015 and 2019 resulted in deaths, injuries and widespread destruction of businesses owned by foreign nationals, prompting diplomatic protests from several African governments, including Nigeria. The recurring attacks have repeatedly tested relations between Africa’s two largest economies despite their strong trade, investment and diplomatic ties.
Similar emergency evacuations have taken place elsewhere in recent years. During the conflict in Sudan in 2023, Nigeria and dozens of other countries organised airlifts to rescue stranded citizens. Governments also evacuated nationals from Libya during the country’s civil conflict and from Ukraine following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, underscoring how governments increasingly rely on repatriation missions to protect citizens caught in international crises.
Analysts say South Africa’s recurring xenophobic tensions are rooted in a complex mix of economic inequality, persistently high unemployment, poverty and frustrations over the rising cost of living. While migrants are often blamed for taking jobs or contributing to crime, experts have consistently argued that the country’s economic challenges are driven by a combination of structural issues that extend far beyond immigration.
Migration specialists also warn that returning home marks only the beginning of another challenge. Many evacuees have left behind businesses, homes, jobs, vehicles and years of investment in South Africa. Rebuilding their lives in Nigeria may require employment opportunities, financial assistance, skills support and access to social services to help them reintegrate successfully.
The latest evacuation has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians. While many have praised the Federal Government for acting quickly to bring stranded citizens home, others have urged both Abuja and Pretoria to pursue lasting diplomatic solutions that will prevent the cycle of xenophobic violence from recurring. Many also called for stronger protection of African migrants across the continent and greater cooperation between governments to address the social and economic conditions that fuel hostility toward foreigners.
For the Nigerians who stepped off Tuesday’s flight in Lagos, the journey home brought relief after weeks of uncertainty and fear. But the latest evacuation also serves as another reminder that until the root causes of xenophobic violence are addressed through stronger law enforcement, economic reforms and sustained regional cooperation, many Africans living and working outside their home countries will continue to face uncertainty despite the continent’s vision of greater unity and free movement.
