The Federal Government of Nigeria has postponed the planned evacuation of its citizens from South Africa until Wednesday as concerns mount over ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The airlift operation, which was initially expected to take place on Monday, has been rescheduled as authorities continue preparations to facilitate the safe return of Nigerians who have expressed a desire to leave the country.
According to a report from a local news channel, TVC News Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved five evacuation flights, and the first flight is expected to transport over 270 passengers.
So far, more than 500 people wishing to leave South Africa have been screened and cleared.
Speaking with the broadcaster, foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said the flight was rescheduled due to unforeseen logistical circumstances
“It was communicated that the first flight will leave on Monday evening if we are able to secure the necessary permit clearances and other administrative concerns for the aircraft that will be deployed by Airpeace. But I got information yesterday evening that we won’t be able to airlift today,” he said.
The West African country is planning to repatriate more than 1,000 of its nationals.
The move by Abuja comes after Ghana recently repatriated hundreds of its citizens from South Africa.
Screening for Nigeria’s voluntary repatriation scheme started last week Thursday, Ebienfa told AFP on Friday.
“Total figure not out yet,” he said. “We are expecting over 1,000 persons.”
In a communique, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria said it had “negotiated waivers with host authorities” so that those with “immigration-related offences” would be allowed to leave on the eventual repatriation flights rather than be detained.
South Africa, until recently the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted workers from across the region.
But saddled with an unemployment rate of over 30%, it has seen repeated spurts of xenophobic protests — including renewed violence in recent weeks.
The latest tensions have revived uncomfortable debates across Africa about xenophobia, migration and the gap between pan-African rhetoric and realities facing migration on the continent.
An ultimatum by one citizen-led group for illegal migrants to be expelled by June 30 has raised fears of violence after bouts of anti-immigrant unrest in the past that claimed dozens of lives.
The South African government has said it is stepping up enforcement against undocumented immigrants but urged citizens not to take matters into their own hands.
There are more than three million foreigners living in South Africa, or 5.1% of the population, according to the statistics agency.
More than 63% come from countries in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.
IOL
