More than 700 Nigerians remain stranded in South Africa just days before a June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups, amid growing concerns over their safety and delays in the Federal Government’s evacuation efforts.
According to The Punch, investigations revealed that although President Bola Tinubu approved funds for additional evacuation flights, bureaucratic processes have slowed the release of the money, preventing the operation from progressing as planned.
Sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa disclosed that the delay has left hundreds of Nigerians vulnerable as xenophobic tensions continue to rise across parts of the country.
The Federal Government had approved four additional evacuation flights after the initial operation returned 258 Nigerians to Lagos.
However, the designated carrier, Air Peace, has reportedly not received payment, resulting in a standstill.
Officials familiar with the process said the airline was unwilling to deploy aircraft until payment was confirmed.
The worsening delay has intensified fears among affected Nigerians, many of whom remain stranded in temporary shelters and other locations while anti-foreigner sentiments gain momentum.
President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, said more than 20 Nigerians had lost their lives since xenophobic attacks resurfaced, while several others had suffered injuries, displacement, and destruction of property.
Hundreds Yet To Be Evacuated
Government records indicate that over 1,000 Nigerians registered for voluntary evacuation.
So far, only 324 have returned home through a combination of government-backed and privately sponsored efforts, leaving more than 700 awaiting transportation.
The first group of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard an Air Peace flight, while another 66 returned on June 24 through a ValueJet-supported operation.
Speaking during the reception of the second batch, NiDCOM’s Lagos Liaison Office Coordinator, Dipo Odebowale, representing Commission Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, praised President Tinubu for supporting the evacuation process.
He also noted that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, was addressing challenges that emerged after the first evacuation flight and remained committed to ensuring all registered Nigerians were brought home.
However, inquiries revealed that Air Peace has yet to receive payment for the next phase of the operation despite presidential approval granted more than two weeks ago.
The airline had reportedly planned to use a Boeing 777 aircraft for four separate rescue flights, but unresolved payment issues stalled the arrangement.
A senior aviation industry source said, “Air Peace was supposed to complete the rescue mission in four flights, but even before the mission started, we started hearing that about five airlines were bidding for the operation. Meanwhile, it had always been Air Peace doing this job before now.
“I have enough information that Air Peace has yet to embark on the second evacuation operation because of the payment issue.”
The source further explained that the payment delay opened the door for ValueJet’s intervention.
“The government gave ValueJet the job because discussions with Air Peace seemed to be dragging over payment, and operators are not ready to do free jobs now, considering the price of aviation fuel,” she stated.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry official also confirmed that a second evacuation flight scheduled for Monday did not take off because the airline had not received payment.
According to the official, some Nigerians had already been instructed to report to the airport in Johannesburg before they were informed of the postponement and returned to the Nigerian High Commission.
He said, “When we operated the first flight, it was paid for by Mr President. Then we submitted requests for four subsequent flights, which have also been approved by him. That was two weeks ago. But approval is different from when the money reaches Air Peace’s account.
“So, we are waiting for the administrative procedure that will ensure the money is paid into Air Peace’s account before we can authoritatively say when the next batch of the four flights will be.”
Providing details on the aborted Monday operation, he added, “The second flight was supposed to leave Johannesburg on Monday. We invited those who were supposed to be on the flight to come to the High Commission. From the High Commission, they were to be moved to the airport to board the flight to Nigeria.
“However, after inviting them, we later got information that the Monday flight would not come because of this administrative issue.
“Some of those who had already arrived and could not return to any reliable accommodation were sheltered at the High Commission. The High Commission was feeding and taking care of them pending when the flight would be ready. Because of the administrative issue last week, the mission decided to raise the alarm to see how well-meaning Nigerians could intervene to assist those already waiting with their luggage at the High Commission.
“The owner of ValueJet responded and paid for 66 tickets on South African Airways to bring them (the stranded Nigerians) to Lagos on Wednesday night.”
Expressing optimism that the matter could soon be resolved, the official said, “I am optimistic that between now and Monday, we will be able to state exactly when the next flight will commence.
“The issue is not about approving a request; it is about Air Peace confirming payment, then giving us a date to deploy its aircraft.”
A NiDCOM official similarly blamed logistical obstacles, including aircraft availability, for the slow pace of evacuation.
“The Federal Government is committed to evacuating the affected Nigerians in South Africa. About 1,000 of them registered for evacuation. But logistical issues, including the non-availability of aircraft, are delaying the subsequent evacuation process,” he said.
Attempts to obtain reactions from Air Peace and ValueJet were unsuccessful, as calls and messages sent to their representatives were not answered.
Rising Xenophobic Hostility
Anti-foreigner tensions have intensified across South Africa since late April, with immigrants increasingly blamed for unemployment and pressure on public services.
Political organisations, including ActionSA, the Patriotic Alliance and uMkhonto we Sizwe, have repeatedly pushed narratives portraying foreign nationals as competitors for jobs and state resources.
The resulting hostility has led to violent attacks, intimidation, business destruction and displacement affecting many Nigerians and other African nationals.
Videos circulating on social media have also shown anti-immigration protests and demonstrations demanding that foreigners leave the country.
Among the most active groups are March and March and Operation Dudula, which have repeatedly urged foreign nationals to leave South Africa before June 30.
These developments prompted the Nigerian Government to launch an emergency evacuation initiative for citizens willing to return home.
More Than 20 Nigerians Dead
Speaking on casualties linked to the renewed attacks, Onyekwelu said the deaths occurred between late 2025 and June 2026.
He explained that while some victims were killed extrajudicially, others died after suffering emotional and financial trauma caused by attacks on their businesses.
“The claim that Nigerians have not suffered as a result of these xenophobic attacks is not true. Between late last year and now, over 20 Nigerians have been reported dead.
“Some of them died due to extrajudicial actions. Others died from the stress that followed the vandalisation or looting of their businesses in places like KwaZulu-Natal.
“Some Nigerians were forced to lie on the streets and were flogged publicly. You could see the wounds on their bodies. In the Eastern Cape, some had their cars torched. In Johannesburg, some businesses were vandalised.
“This is not propaganda by the community or the media. We have names, pictures and evidence. These incidents happened in Cape Town, KwaZulu-Natal, East London and Johannesburg. We have leaders in all these areas, who compile the reports and send them to us.”
Fear Grows Ahead Of June 30
As the deadline approaches, many Nigerians who have chosen to remain in South Africa say anxiety is mounting.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Akin Olunloyo, described the atmosphere as tense, with widespread reports of intimidation, harassment and attacks targeting foreigners.
“The situation remains very volatile and deeply troubling because people are scampering, and there is a lot of fear in town as we approach the June 30 deadline. The organised hostility manifests in various forms, including verbal harassment, threats and intimidation.
“While these protests target undocumented migrants, the violence and intimidation affect everyone perceived to be of African descent, whether they are in South Africa legally or not.
“The pervasive nature of the threat means that many Nigerians feel very unsafe and are choosing to leave rather than risk their personal safety,” he said.
Olunloyo added that anti-immigration groups have sustained pressure through street demonstrations and online campaigns, creating what he called a climate of fear for foreign nationals.
He also disclosed that authorities would soon release schedules for additional evacuation flights.
Businesses Hit Hard
A Nigerian trader in Johannesburg, Eniola Bayewunmi, said many migrants had remained indoors for weeks to avoid attacks or arrest.
She said the situation had crippled businesses and left many people facing significant financial losses.
“We have been staying indoors for the past month. They have prevented us from going out to open our shops or conduct our businesses,” she said.
Bayewunmi claimed that protesters, allegedly supported by security operatives, had been conducting raids and demanding immigration documents from foreign nationals.
“The police are backing the protesters and even encouraging them to carry out raids on the residences of foreigners. The protesters, with the support of the police, are going from house to house demanding documents from migrants,” she said.
Government Promises Fresh Evacuation Flights
Despite the setbacks, the Federal Government has assured stranded Nigerians that evacuation efforts will resume soon.
In a statement issued by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and released through Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the mission said temporary logistical and technical difficulties had interrupted the programme but had since been addressed.
“The ongoing voluntary repatriation of Nigerian nationals, which was temporarily suspended due to logistical and technical reasons, will resume any moment from now.
“The mission reassures all persons who have been screened to hold themselves in readiness to depart anytime their flight arrangements are finalised,” the statement read.
The mission advised evacuees not to report to the High Commission unless contacted directly.
“Everybody who has been screened should remain on alert, as the mission will directly notify those scheduled to travel to come to the High Commission based on the sequence of flights arranged for their respective dates and times.
“Please take note that unless you are called, do not come with your luggage or personal belongings, as we do not want anybody to be left stranded at the gate of the mission.”
The statement also revealed that the mission had formally requested security protection from South African authorities.
“Moreover, the mission is obliged to inform all that a written appeal has been forwarded to the host authorities, seeking protection for our nationals in the country before, on and after June 30, 2026.
“While we await an immediate and positive response from the authorities, we urge our nationals to continue to be law-abiding, remain united and exercise caution in the face of extreme provocation,” it added.
