The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, will receive the first batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Ministry said Ambassador Enikanolaiye will be at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to welcome the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens abroad.
“In demonstration of the importance attached to the well-being of Nigerians abroad and the Federal Government’s citizen-centred foreign policy, the Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, will be at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, to receive the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria,” the Ministry said.
According to the statement, the Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Pretoria, Alexander Ajayi, will escort the first batch of 268 Nigerians back home and formally hand them over to the Minister.
The evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace, is expected to arrive in Lagos at about 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2026.
“The Acting High Commissioner of Nigeria in Pretoria, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, is expected to escort the first batch of 268 passengers to the country and hand them over to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs,” the statement noted.
The Ministry also announced an extension of the screening exercise for Nigerians in South Africa who wish to return voluntarily as a result of the ongoing xenophobic attacks.
“The ongoing screening exercise by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria for Nigerian nationals willing to voluntarily return to the country due to the ongoing xenophobic attacks has been extended to Sunday, 14th June 2026, to accommodate more persons