The Federal Government has finalised plans to evacuate 270 Nigerians from South Africa as concerns mount over renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-immigrant protests in the country.

The evacuees, who voluntarily registered to return home, are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos aboard an Air Peace aircraft deployed specifically for the operation. The flight will depart Lagos for Johannesburg, where officials of the Nigerian High Commission and consular staff are coordinating documentation and boarding for the returnees.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the evacuation is part of an ongoing exercise to assist Nigerians who feel unsafe or economically stranded in South Africa. He explained that the mission in Pretoria has been working with local authorities to ensure a smooth and orderly departure for those who have opted to leave.

The latest operation builds on a series of evacuations carried out by the Federal Government in recent years in response to outbreaks of violence, economic hardship and immigration clampdowns affecting Nigerians abroad. South Africa has been a recurring flashpoint, with periodic waves of xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians, and sparking diplomatic tensions between Abuja and Pretoria.

Air Peace, a Nigerian carrier that has repeatedly offered its services for humanitarian missions, is once again at the centre of the effort. The airline previously airlifted hundreds of Nigerians out of South Africa during earlier episodes of xenophobic violence, as well as from other crisis zones around the world.

Officials say the current evacuation underscores the government’s commitment to protect its citizens wherever they reside and to provide a pathway home for those who no longer feel secure. Nigerian authorities have also moved to reassure those choosing to remain in South Africa, stressing that diplomatic engagements with the South African government are ongoing to guarantee their safety and safeguard their rights.

Recent protests and reported attacks on foreign-owned businesses have reignited calls from civil society groups and diaspora organisations for stronger diplomatic pressure and more robust consular support. The Federal Government maintains that while it will continue to demand accountability and protection for Nigerians abroad, it will also keep evacuation channels open for citizens who decide that returning home is the safest option.