Fresh Batch Of Nigerians Set To Return From South Africa On Wednesday

The Federal Government has confirmed that 65 Nigerians are expected to return to the country from South Africa on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, amid renewed concerns over the safety of African migrants in parts of the country.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs monitored by Ireporter Online, the returnees are scheduled to leave Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 3:30 p.m. local time aboard a South African Airways flight.

The flight is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos at approximately 8:45 p.m. the same day.

The ministry disclosed that the return exercise is being sponsored by private individuals, with the latest group bringing the number of Nigerians assisted to return from South Africa in recent times to more than 1,400.

The development comes against the backdrop of renewed concerns over reported attacks and hostility towards African migrants in some parts of South Africa, including Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Western Cape.

Such incidents have previously involved attacks on foreign-owned businesses, physical assaults and the displacement of migrants, with tensions sometimes linked to complaints over employment opportunities and crime.

The Federal Government has continued to monitor the situation and facilitate the return of Nigerians who feel threatened, stranded or unable to continue living safely in the affected areas.