The Federal Government has announced that the screening process for Nigerians in South Africa who registered for voluntary evacuation following renewed xenophobic attacks is expected to conclude today.
The disclosure was made on Saturday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, who explained that the exercise is a critical step toward determining the final number of citizens eligible to return home under the government’s evacuation programme.
According to Ebienfa, the screening exercise began on Thursday and is being conducted through a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South African authorities, law enforcement agencies and immigration officials.
He explained that the process is designed to verify the identities and status of Nigerians who have indicated their willingness to return to Nigeria amid growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa.
The exercise is being coordinated jointly by the Nigerian High Commission, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Police Service and immigration authorities.
Ebienfa stated that once the verification exercise is completed, officials will have an accurate figure of individuals cleared for evacuation.
He noted that the Federal Government would then move to the next phase of the operation by making arrangements for aircraft deployment to transport the affected Nigerians back to the country.
“The screening exercise of Nigerians in South Africa that have registered to be evacuated will end today.
“At the end of the screening, we will have a definite figure that has been cleared for evacuation. Thereafter, government will finalise the details about deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” he stated.
The evacuation initiative follows growing concerns over anti-immigrant demonstrations and incidents of violence reported in parts of South Africa, particularly in Pretoria and Johannesburg.
The protests, which have targeted foreign nationals, have heightened fears among many African migrants, including Nigerians residing in the country.
In response to the situation, the Federal Government announced plans last month to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians who wished to leave South Africa due to security concerns and uncertainty surrounding the rising tensions.
The programme was introduced to provide a safe and organised pathway for citizens who no longer felt secure remaining in the country.
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed through a post on her X account that about 130 Nigerians initially registered for the voluntary repatriation exercise when it was first announced.
However, interest in the programme has reportedly increased significantly in recent weeks as more Nigerians sought to take advantage of the evacuation opportunity.
Recent reports indicate that the number of Nigerians seeking voluntary repatriation has climbed to over 1,000, reflecting growing concerns among members of the Nigerian community in South Africa.
The increase also underscores the impact of renewed xenophobic tensions, which have once again sparked debates about the safety and welfare of foreign nationals living and working in the country.
South Africa remains one of Africa’s largest economies and has historically attracted migrants from across the continent in search of employment and business opportunities.
However, recurring episodes of anti-immigrant sentiment and violence have continued to pose challenges for foreign communities and strained diplomatic relations with some African countries.
The Federal Government has assured affected citizens that it is working closely with relevant authorities to ensure that the evacuation process is conducted smoothly and that all eligible individuals are safely returned to Nigeria once arrangements are completed.
