Xenophobia: Air Peace Concludes Evacuation of Nigerians From SA

West Africa's largest airline and Nigeria's premier carrier, Air Peace, has successfully concluded the Federal Government of Nigeria's humanitarian evacuation exercise from South Africa, safely returning the final batch of 308 Nigerians aboard its Boeing 777-200, bringing the total number of citizens evacuated by the airline to 1,393 across five successful missions.

The final evacuation flight from Johannesburg arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 11:28 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, where the aircraft docked at the Cargo and Hajj Terminal, officially drawing the curtain on the humanitarian operation coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with Air Peace.

The returnees were received by the CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) is Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa along with Senior Immigration personnel who welcomed them home on behalf of the Federal Government.

Addressing the returnees, Hon. Dr. Dabiri-Erewa empathised with the difficulties they endured during the crisis and conveyed a message of reassurance from the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, affirming the administration's commitment to supporting their reintegration and welfare.

She commended the collaborative efforts that made the evacuation possible and expressed profound appreciation to Air Peace and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Allen Onyema, for once again placing national service above commercial interest in answering the country's call.

The successful completion of the exercise marks another significant milestone in Nigeria's humanitarian response to the security situation in South Africa and underscores the value of strong public-private collaboration in safeguarding the welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad.

From the commencement of the operation, Air Peace deployed its Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft across five dedicated evacuation missions, safely airlifting 1,393 Nigerians back to their homeland with the highest standards of safety, comfort and operational excellence.

Beyond transporting passengers, each evacuation flight carried families back to loved ones, restored hope to those displaced by uncertainty, and reaffirmed the enduring promise that Nigerians can rely on their nation in times of need.

The completion of the South Africa evacuation exercise further strengthens Air Peace's reputation as Nigeria's foremost humanitarian airline. Since commencing operations, the carrier has undertaken more than 20 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and beyond, supporting emergency repatriations, humanitarian interventions and national response efforts whenever called upon.

These landmark humanitarian missions continue to reflect the pan-nationalistic vision and enduring philanthropy of Dr. Allen Onyema, whose commitment to humanity has transformed Air Peace into a dependable national institution that consistently deploys its resources in service of Nigeria and the African continent.

As Nigeria's leading airline, Air Peace remains steadfast in its commitment to connecting people beyond destinations—standing with Nigerians in moments of uncertainty, supporting government-led humanitarian initiatives, and delivering hope whenever the nation calls.