SOUTH AFRICA: Hundreds of Nigerians seeking to return home amid ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa have been left stranded due to delays in the Federal Government’s evacuation programme, the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has said.
The Federal Government had announced on June 7, 2026, that five chartered evacuation flights operated by Air Peace would be deployed to repatriate Nigerians willing to return home. However, only one flight has been completed so far, bringing 258 returnees to Lagos last Thursday, despite more than 1,000 Nigerians reportedly registering for evacuation.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National President, Frank Onyekwelu, NICASA expressed concern over the plight of stranded Nigerians who responded to the government’s repatriation initiative.
According to the association, many evacuees travelled from distant provinces across South Africa after being directed to report for registration and screening, only to find themselves stranded without shelter, food, transportation, or financial support.
NICASA said the situation has become increasingly dire, with some Nigerians, including women and children, forced to sleep in difficult conditions while awaiting information on their return.
“Several have exhausted their limited resources after travelling long distances in good faith, believing that arrangements had been adequately concluded for their departure,” the association stated.
The group called on the Federal Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the National Assembly Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters to urgently intervene and address the worsening humanitarian situation.
It also urged authorities to fast-track the remaining four evacuation flights, provide emergency welfare support for stranded citizens, and establish a humanitarian response mechanism pending their departure.
NICASA further appealed to the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to strengthen communication with affected citizens, provide temporary assistance, and engage community leaders to help meet their immediate needs.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said there was no fresh update on the repatriation exercise but promised that information would be provided once new developments emerge.
Meanwhile, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocol at the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), assured affected citizens that all registered evacuees would eventually be returned to Nigeria.
He appealed for patience, stating that the government was working to ensure the smooth execution of the evacuation programme.
