AIR PEACE has completed the fourth phase of the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa, bringing home another 284 citizens as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing response to the recent wave of xenophobic attacks in the country.
The airline’s spokesperson, Mr. Efe Osifo-Whiskey, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos, saying the latest evacuation flight, operated with Air Peace’s Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft, arrived in Nigeria on Thursday evening.
With the latest batch of returnees, the total number of Nigerians evacuated by the airline has risen to 1,085.
Osifo-Whiskey said the exercise underscored Air Peace’s continued commitment to supporting the Federal Government’s emergency response efforts by providing safe and seamless transportation for Nigerians affected by the violence.
According to him, the airline evacuated 262 Nigerians during the first mission on June 11, followed by 271 evacuees on June 30, 268 on July 3, and 284 during the fourth operation completed on Thursday.
He said the successful completion of the fourth evacuation mission demonstrated the airline’s readiness to deploy its fleet and operational capacity in support of national emergencies whenever required.
“This is more than an airlift. The ongoing evacuation exercise reflects Air Peace’s unwavering humanitarian philosophy—one rooted in compassion, patriotism and abiding commitment,” Osifo-Whiskey said.
He added that Air Peace has carried out more than 16 evacuation and humanitarian relief missions across Africa and beyond since it commenced operations, reaffirming the airline’s commitment to supporting Nigerians at home and abroad whenever called upon.
Meanwhile, Uganda has also concluded the first phase of its voluntary repatriation programme, successfully bringing home 1,102 of its citizens from South Africa following xenophobic violence and anti-migrant protests.
The final chartered evacuation flight, carrying 219 Ugandan nationals from O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, landed safely at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday, marking the completion of the first phase of the operation.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Ugandan Embassy in South Africa described the exercise as a successful government-led evacuation programme.
“The arrival marks the successful conclusion of phase one of the Government of Uganda’s voluntary repatriation exercise,” the embassy said, adding that 1,102 Ugandan nationals had returned home safely through six coordinated evacuation flights.
Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the repatriation exercise was carried out in collaboration with the Uganda People’s Defence Forces to ensure the safe return of citizens affected by the unrest in South Africa.
Uganda Airlines, the country’s national carrier, alongside other partners, supported the evacuation exercise following a directive by President Yoweri Museveni to safeguard Ugandan nationals impacted by the violence and insecurity abroad.
The Ugandan government also announced that the returnees would undergo a training programme at the Kyankwanzi National Leadership Institute in central Uganda to equip them with skills and the mindset needed for successful reintegration into society.
The parallel evacuation efforts by Nigeria and Uganda reflect growing concern among African governments over the safety of their citizens in South Africa amid renewed xenophobic attacks and anti-migrant demonstrations, with both countries working closely with their national airlines and relevant agencies to ensure the safe return of affected nationals.
