The Federal Government has evacuated 39 additional Nigerian nationals from Johannesburg, South Africa, aboard an emergency Air Peace flight as part of its ongoing voluntary repatriation exercise.

The emergency operation was arranged to transport citizens who were unable to board Thursday's scheduled evacuation flight. The aircraft is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos at approximately 8:50 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026.

The latest evacuation follows Thursday's successful repatriation of nearly 287 Nigerians. That operation experienced a brief setback after the aircraft initially deployed for the mission suffered a shattered windscreen while on the tarmac in Johannesburg, prompting Air Peace to dispatch a replacement aircraft to complete the exercise.

With the arrival of the additional 39 evacuees, the total number of Nigerians repatriated during the current phase of the exercise has exceeded 1,085.

The evacuation programme was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in response to rising anti-migrant sentiments and xenophobic tensions in South Africa. Authorities have also confirmed that a final evacuation flight is being arranged for next week to bring home the remaining 300 registered Nigerians.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens abroad, assuring that efforts are ongoing to ensure every registered national willing to return home is safely evacuated.