*As private donors fund repatriation

A new batch of 83 Nigerian nationals is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from South Africa aboard a South African Airways flight, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced.

The returnees are expected to depart Oliver Tambo Airport in Johannesburg at 3:35 p.m. local time and arrive in Lagos at approximately 8:45 p.m. the same day, with the latest return being facilitated through the intervention of public-spirited private individuals who sponsored their air tickets.

The development was announced in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, who said the Federal Government had received the intervention and generosity of the private individuals with profound gratitude.

According to the ministry, the latest cohort follows the earlier conclusion of the Federal Government’s voluntary repatriation programme, under which nearly 1,490 Nigerian citizens were repatriated from South Africa amid rising Afrophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.

The ministry said the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, remained unwavering in its commitment to safeguarding the welfare and dignity of all Nigerians, both at home and abroad.

“In line with its Citizen Diplomacy agenda, the government views Nigerians in the diaspora not as a burden, but as critical assets for national development, and is dedicated to ensuring their protection and well-being,” the ministry said.

It also extended special appreciation to the private individuals and philanthropists who stepped forward to support the humanitarian effort, describing their intervention as a sterling example of the “whole of society approach” and the public-private collaboration being championed by the government in addressing challenges confronting Nigerians abroad.

The ministry commended the patriotism and selflessness of the benefactors, saying their contributions had significantly alleviated the plight of Nigerians in South Africa.

It consequently called on the organised private sector, corporate organisations, state governments and other well-meaning Nigerians, both at home and in the diaspora, to emulate the initiative.

“Our collective efforts will bolster our national capacity to respond to consular emergencies effectively,” the ministry stated.

The Federal Government further said it remained committed to deepening strategic partnerships with host nations, including South Africa, to address the root causes of Afrophobia and ensure that acts of violence and discrimination against Nigerians were prevented and strongly condemned whenever they occurred.

It added that perpetrators of such violence and discrimination must be held accountable.