Nigeria has concluded the voluntary evacuation of 1,490 of its citizens from South Africa after a series of xenophobic attacks raised fresh concerns over the safety of foreign nationals living in the country.

The final group of evacuees arrived in Lagos on July 15 aboard a fifth government-organised flight from Johannesburg.

According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, the aircraft carried 305 Nigerians along with two government officials, completing the evacuation exercise.

The repatriation programme followed diplomatic engagements between the Nigerian and South African governments after reports of increasing attacks targeting foreigners, including Nigerians.

Abuja has repeatedly expressed concern over the safety of its citizens and called for stronger protection measures.

Nigeria has also condemned incidents that reportedly led to the deaths of at least two of its nationals, who were allegedly assaulted by security officials.

The government says such cases underscore the need for accountability and respect for the rights of foreign residents.

“Despite strong bilateral ties with South Africa, Nigeria’s position remains clear: xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against its citizens are unacceptable,”Ebienfa said.

Although the two countries continue to enjoy longstanding diplomatic and economic relations, the recent attacks have strained public sentiment and renewed calls for greater efforts to combat xenophobic violence.

The completion of the evacuation marks the end of an emergency response by the Nigerian government, but officials maintain that the safety and welfare of Nigerians living abroad will remain a priority as they continue engaging South African authorities over the security of their citizens.