Air Peace has completed its second humanitarian evacuation mission from South Africa, bringing home 271 stranded Nigerians as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to evacuate citizens affected by xenophobic tensions in parts of the country.
The evacuation flight, operated with the airline’s Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft, departed Johannesburg and landed safely at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 10:35 a.m. on Tuesday, June 30, 2026.
The aircraft arrived at the airport’s Cargo and Hajj Terminal, where passengers underwent processing.
The latest operation raised the total number of Nigerians evacuated by Air Peace under the ongoing South African evacuation exercise to 533, following the successful return of 262 citizens on June 11.
The mission was coordinated by the Federal Government in response to growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians following renewed xenophobic incidents in parts of South Africa.
Speaking on the successful operation, Air Peace spokesman, Mr. Efe Osifo-Whiskey, praised the Federal Government for its swift intervention and acknowledged the leadership of the airline’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Allen Onyema.
According to him, the evacuation demonstrated the effectiveness of public-private collaboration in protecting Nigerian citizens during emergencies.
“Today’s successful evacuation once again reflected the power of public-private collaboration in safeguarding Nigerian lives. We commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising the welfare of Nigerians abroad and appreciate our Chairman, Dr. Allen Onyema, whose enduring patriotism and humanitarian convictions continue to position Air Peace as a dependable national asset in times of need”, he said.
Air Peace said the successful completion of the mission further reinforces its reputation as a leading humanitarian carrier, noting that it has carried out more than 16 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and beyond since it began operations.
The airline said it has consistently deployed its fleet to support emergency repatriation and humanitarian interventions, transporting thousands of people from conflict zones and crisis-affected regions.
It added that these interventions reflected the humanitarian vision of Onyema and the airline’s commitment to national service, African solidarity and supporting government efforts whenever the need arises.