The Federal Government is set to begin arrangements for the deployment of aircraft to evacuate Nigerians seeking to return from South Africa following the completion of an ongoing screening and verification exercise.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the screening process, which commenced on Thursday and ends today, is expected to provide the final number of Nigerians eligible for evacuation, paving the way for the next phase of the repatriation operation.
Spokesperson of the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the exercise is being conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the South African Police Service and immigration authorities.
According to him, the verification process is designed to confirm the identities, immigration status and travel documents of prospective returnees to ensure a smooth and orderly evacuation.
“At the end of the screening, we will have a definite figure that have been cleared for evacuation. Thereafter, government will finalise the details about deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” Ebienfa said.
The planned evacuation follows renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa amid reports of attacks, intimidation and growing anti-immigrant sentiments in some communities.
The development has prompted many Nigerians to seek assistance from authorities to return home, with reports indicating that more than 1,000 citizens have registered for voluntary evacuation.
The latest move comes against the backdrop of recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa that have, over the years, strained relations between Africa’s two largest economies.
Previous waves of violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019 resulted in deaths, injuries and widespread destruction of businesses owned by foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Officials said aviation and diplomatic authorities would, after the screening exercise, determine the number of aircraft required, flight schedules and reception arrangements for returnees upon arrival in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has also assured affected Nigerians that it is working closely with South African authorities to guarantee their safety pending evacuation.
With the verification process nearing completion, attention has shifted to the deployment of aircraft that will bring stranded Nigerians home, marking the final phase of one of the largest recent voluntary repatriation exercises involving Nigerians in South Africa.
Michael Olugbode
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