NOSA EGHAGHA
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Federal Government has postponed the evacuation of Nigerian citizens seeking to return home from South Africa following a fresh wave of xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals in parts of the country.
The first batch of evacuees, initially scheduled to depart on Monday, will now be airlifted on Wednesday due to administrative and operational challenges, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed the development in an official update, explaining that the delay was caused by logistical issues encountered during preparations for the emergency evacuation exercise.
According to the ministry, the evacuation plan was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of efforts to ensure the safety of Nigerians affected by the rising anti-foreigner violence in South Africa.
Under the arrangement, five repatriation flights have been approved to transport Nigerians who have indicated a desire to return home. The operation is being handled by Air Peace, which will deploy aircraft to bring the affected citizens back to Nigeria.
Officials disclosed that the first aircraft, expected to depart from Johannesburg on Wednesday evening, is projected to carry about 270 Nigerians, subject to the completion of all diplomatic clearances and aviation landing approvals required for the operation.
The postponement has also allowed authorities to expand the screening and documentation process for Nigerians seeking evacuation. As a result, the registration and profiling exercise has been extended until Wednesday to accommodate more citizens who may wish to participate in the programme.
Providing an update on the exercise, Ebienfa said the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria had extended the screening period to enable more affected citizens to be processed.
“I received confirmation from our Mission in Pretoria that the screening exercise of Nigerian nationals who have indicated interest to be evacuated back home has been extended to Wednesday,” he said.
He further disclosed that more than 500 Nigerians have so far been screened and cleared for evacuation, a figure that could increase as registration continues.
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians in South Africa that efforts are ongoing to ensure their safe return, while diplomatic engagements with South African authorities continue to address the situation and guarantee the protection of Nigerian citizens who choose to remain in the country.
The latest evacuation effort comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where foreign nationals, particularly African migrants, have in the past faced violence, intimidation and displacement during periods of social and economic tension. Nigerian authorities say they are closely monitoring developments and remain committed to protecting the welfare and security of affected citizens.
