Nigeria has officially finished the process of evacuating its nationals from South Africa, successfully airlifting 1,490 people. This operation occurred between June 10 and July 15 amid increasing hostility toward foreign workers. Spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed the end of the repatriation efforts on Friday.
The evacuations followed intense pressure from local groups demanding that undocumented migrants depart by June 30. These demands triggered violent unrest, resulting in at least four deaths and the widespread destruction of immigrant-owned businesses. Similar repatriation programs have been utilized by other nations, including Malawi, which brought home 38,000 citizens, and Zimbabwe, which saw 21,300 residents return.
Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu previously highlighted the worsening conditions for foreigners, specifically referencing the deaths of Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu. Although South African law enforcement stated those incidents were unrelated to the protests, the government faces persistent criticism for failing to adequately protect foreign nationals. Despite calls from some Nigerian officials for a more aggressive stance, Abuja intends to resolve the tension through continued diplomatic engagement with Pretoria.
