Air Peace has successfully completed a second humanitarian evacuation operation from South Africa, transporting 271 stranded Nigerians back to the country in collaboration with the Federal Government as efforts continue to protect citizens affected by xenophobic unrest.
The evacuation flight, operated with the airline’s Boeing 777-200 wide-body aircraft, departed Johannesburg and touched down at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, at 10:35 a.m. on Tuesday.
Upon arrival, the aircraft was received at the airport’s Cargo and Hajj Terminal, where the evacuees underwent the necessary immigration and other processing procedures.
The latest mission followed renewed concerns over xenophobic tensions in parts of South Africa, prompting the Nigerian government to facilitate the voluntary return of affected citizens.
The exercise formed part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerians living abroad whenever security situations deteriorate.
With the completion of the operation, Air Peace has now evacuated a total of 533 Nigerians from South Africa during the current exercise.
The figure comprises the 271 passengers brought home on Tuesday and the 262 Nigerians evacuated during the airline’s first rescue flight on 11 June.
The airline said the successful execution of both missions demonstrates its readiness to support the Federal Government during emergencies by deploying its fleet and operational resources whenever required.
Commenting on the exercise, the airline’s spokesperson, Mr Efe Osifo-Whiskey, described the evacuation as another example of the positive impact of cooperation between government and the private sector in responding to humanitarian crises.
He applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing the welfare of Nigerians abroad high on the government’s agenda and also paid tribute to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, whose commitment to humanitarian causes has continued to shape the airline’s corporate philosophy.
According to Osifo-Whiskey, Air Peace has consistently demonstrated that its role extends beyond commercial aviation, remaining prepared to assist the nation whenever emergency situations demand urgent intervention.
The airline noted that humanitarian operations have become a defining aspect of its activities over the years. Since commencing operations, Air Peace has carried out more than 16 humanitarian and evacuation missions across Africa and beyond, helping to repatriate thousands of people from conflict zones, crisis-hit regions and other emergency situations.
The carrier has previously partnered with the Federal Government on several evacuation exercises, reinforcing its position as a strategic national asset capable of supporting emergency response efforts through its long-haul aircraft and operational expertise.
Air Peace said its humanitarian interventions reflect the vision of its leadership, particularly Dr Onyema, whose emphasis on compassion, national service and African unity has guided many of the airline’s non-commercial operations.
The airline reaffirmed that it would continue to support government initiatives aimed at protecting Nigerian citizens, while maintaining its commitment to safe, reliable air transport and deploying its resources whenever called upon in the service of humanity.
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