The Federal Government has shifted the planned evacuation of Nigerian citizens seeking to return home from South Africa following the recent surge in xenophobic attacks targeting Black foreigners in the country.
The development was disclosed on Monday by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, who explained that the airlift of the first group of Nigerians, initially scheduled for Monday, has been moved to Wednesday due to logistical challenges.
According to Ebienfa, the adjustment became necessary as authorities work to finalize operational arrangements required for the evacuation exercise.
He stated that President Bola Tinubu had already approved five separate evacuation flights to facilitate the return of Nigerians who no longer feel safe remaining in South Africa. The flights are expected to be operated by Nigerian carrier Air Peace.
Providing an update on the operation, Ebienfa noted that the first evacuation flight is now expected to depart Johannesburg on Wednesday evening once all regulatory approvals, permits, and clearances have been fully secured.
The initial flight is projected to transport approximately 270 Nigerians back to the country as part of the government’s broader effort to ensure the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson further revealed that the ongoing screening and verification exercise for Nigerians who registered for voluntary evacuation has also been extended until Wednesday.
The screening process is being conducted to confirm the identities of intending returnees and ensure that all eligible individuals are properly documented before departure.
“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.
”So far, more than 500 persons have been screened and cleared,” Ebienfa said.
The extension is expected to allow additional Nigerians who have expressed interest in returning home to complete the required verification process before the evacuation flights commence.
The federal government had earlier announced plans to assist Nigerians willing to leave South Africa following renewed incidents of xenophobic violence and anti-immigrant protests reported in parts of the country.
The initiative is aimed at providing a safe and orderly return for affected citizens amid growing concerns about their security and well-being.
Officials say the government remains committed to ensuring that all Nigerians who choose to participate in the voluntary repatriation programme are transported safely back to the country.
The evacuation arrangement follows reports that the number of Nigerians seeking voluntary repatriation has risen significantly since the programme was announced, with hundreds of citizens already completing the screening process.
Authorities have assured that additional flights approved for the operation will be deployed as necessary to accommodate eligible returnees and ensure the exercise is conducted smoothly.
