Following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks against Blacks in South Africa, The federal government, through Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, 8 June, 2026 announced rescheduling of airlifting of the first batch of Nigerian citizens wanting to leave country, reports thegazellenews.com.
The spokesman of the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who made this disclosure through a statement issued on Monday, 8 June, 2026, said the proposed airlifting of the first batch of returnees from South Africa, which is originally scheduled for Monday (today), has been rescheduled for Wednesday, and this is due to unforeseen logistical considerations.
According to Ebienfa, President Bola Tinubu approved five evacuation flights, which Nigeria’s private airliner, Air Peace, will operate.
While stating that the first flight, expected to transport about 270 passengers, would leave Johannesburg on the evening of the new date, after all necessary permits and clearance have been secured for the aircraft, the ministry image-maker also confirmed that the federal government had extended the screening of its citizens, who were willing to be evacuated from South Africa to Wednesday.
”I received confirmation from our mission in Pretoria that the screening exercise of Nigerian nationals, who have indicated interest to be evacuated back home, has been extended to Wednesday.
”So far, more than 500 persons have been screened and cleared,” Ebienfa said.
