Air Peace has concluded the Federal Government’s humanitarian evacuation of stranded Nigerians from South Africa, safely returning the final batch of 308 citizens and bringing the total number evacuated to 1,393 across five special flights.
The last evacuation flight, operated with the airline’s Boeing 777-200 aircraft, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 11:28 a.m. on Wednesday, marking the successful completion of the operation coordinated by the Federal Government in partnership with the airline.
The returnees were received by the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Hon. Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, alongside senior immigration officials, who welcomed them on behalf of the Federal Government.
Addressing the evacuees, Dabiri-Erewa acknowledged the hardships they experienced during the crisis and conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s assurance of the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting their reintegration and welfare.
She also commended Air Peace and its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema, for once again placing national service above commercial interests by partnering with the government to bring stranded Nigerians home safely.
The successful conclusion of the exercise represents another milestone in Nigeria’s humanitarian response to the situation in South Africa and highlights the importance of public-private collaboration in protecting the welfare of citizens abroad.
Throughout the operation, Air Peace deployed its Boeing 777-200 aircraft on five dedicated evacuation missions, transporting 1,393 Nigerians back home while maintaining high standards of safety, comfort and operational efficiency.
According to the airline, the evacuation was more than an airlift operation, as it reunited families, restored hope to citizens affected by the crisis and demonstrated the nation’s commitment to standing by its people in difficult times.
With the completion of the South Africa mission, Air Peace said it has further reinforced its position as one of Nigeria’s leading humanitarian carriers. Since its inception, the airline has undertaken more than 20 humanitarian and emergency evacuation missions across Africa and beyond, supporting government-led repatriation and relief efforts.
The airline noted that the interventions reflect the humanitarian vision of its founder and Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose commitment to national service has seen Air Peace consistently deploy its resources to support emergency response efforts whenever called upon.
Air Peace reaffirmed its commitment to supporting national humanitarian initiatives, saying it remains dedicated to connecting people beyond destinations while standing with Nigerians in times of need.