Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance in a statement on Thursday, saying the Tinubu administration remains committed to the safety and welfare of Nigerians abroad.
She added that no citizen who has expressed interest in returning will be left behind.
The evacuation exercise is already underway, with the first batch of about 258 Nigerians airlifted from Johannesburg and received in Lagos on June 11.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also pointed to what she described as a double standard, noting that several South African companies, including MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic IBTC, and Protea Hotels, operate freely in Nigeria.
She warned that anti-migrant vigilante groups were heightening tensions and undermining efforts at regional unity, while noting that South African authorities had yet to fully activate a bilateral early warning mechanism agreed with Nigeria in October 2025, citing procedural delays.
Officials say about 1,000 Nigerians have registered for voluntary repatriation, with arrangements underway for subsequent batches using Air Peace flights funded by the Federal Government.
The development follows weeks of anti-foreigner protests and attacks targeting African migrants, including Nigerians, with some groups issuing an unofficial June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave.
Nigerian authorities, however, say many affected citizens are not undocumented, citing delays in permit renewals by South African authorities.
The government also said it would reactivate the Nigeria–South Africa Binational Commission and strengthen early warning systems to prevent future escalations, while providing temporary accommodation and reintegration support for returnees.
