A Nigerian diaspora group has called on the Federal Government to engage in diplomatic and bilateral agreements with South African authorities to secure justice for Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa.
The National Public Secretary of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Akindele Olunloyo, made this known in a statement following the evacuation of 282 Nigerians on Thursday.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission posted on its X that the returnees were accompanied by two officials of the Nigerian Embassy in South Africa who landed at Murtala Muhammed International Airport on an Air Peace Airlines flight.
“This evacuation, which is funded by the Federal Government, is a continuous implementation of the earlier directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in ensuring that willing Nigerians are safely returned to the country,” the statement read.
Reacting to the fifth batch of returnees since the June 30 deadline prompted by the anti-foreigners’ protests, Olunloyo lauded the efforts of the government but added that diplomatic justice must be agreed with the South African government for Nigerians living in South Africa.
Olunloyo said. “No Nigerian should have to tolerate ongoing harassment, organised hostility, threats to their safety, or the destruction of their livelihoods
“While we are pleased to observe the safe return of these vulnerable citizens, we strongly urge the Nigerian government to increase diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to secure assurances of safety for the businesses, residences, and properties of Nigerians still residing in South Africa.”
He said the bilateral relationship between Nigeria and South Africa must be utilised to ensure that the rights and properties of Nigerians were protected and that justice was administered to those who had suffered violence and property hijacking at the hands of anti-black migrant groups.
Diaspora Tales reported last Saturday that over 800 Nigerians had returned to their home country in four earlier batches since South Africans went wild to enforce the June 30 deadline for African foreigners to leave.
Biodun Busari is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with five years of experience reporting on human interest, crime, diaspora issues, and feature storytelling. He focuses on producing engaging, informative stories that enlighten the public and provide context on complex topics. Biodun’s work demonstrates hands-on newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accurate, purpose-driven journalism.
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