The Federal Government has announced that the first group of Nigerian nationals being evacuated from South Africa following rising xenophobic attacks is expected to arrive in Nigeria on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed that the evacuees would depart from Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that the first batch of Nigerian nationals that will be evacuated from the Republic of South Africa due to Xenophobic attacks will depart the Oliver Thambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night, and the expected time of arrival at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos is 5.00 am on Thursday morning,” the statement read in part.
According to the ministry, the evacuation operation will be carried out by Air Peace, with the Federal Government covering all associated costs.
“The evacuation operation will be undertaken by Air Peace Airlines. The Federal Government of Nigeria has fully funded the evacuation exercise; consequently, all affected Nigerians will be repatriated at no cost to them.”
Ebienfa assured Nigerians that adequate arrangements had been made by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to receive and support the returnees upon arrival.
“Upon arrival, the evacuees will undergo documentation and profiling procedures and will receive the appropriate assistance and support before being reunited with their families,” he added.
The evacuation follows heightened tensions in South Africa after a citizen-led group campaigning against irregular migration reportedly issued an ultimatum directing undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country by June 30.
Several African countries have already begun repatriating their citizens. While Ghana and Mozambique have evacuated hundreds of nationals, Nigeria and Malawi have also announced plans to bring their citizens home.
Nigeria had earlier revealed plans to repatriate more than 1,000 citizens from South Africa as concerns over xenophobic attacks continue to grow.
Providing an update on the numbers involved, Ebienfa said, “Total figure not out yet. We are expecting over a 1,000 persons.”
In preparation for the evacuation, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria said it successfully negotiated waivers with South African authorities to allow Nigerians facing immigration-related issues to return home voluntarily instead of being detained.
Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, recently disclosed that Nigeria is considering possible retaliatory measures in response to the treatment of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
When asked if the government was exploring such options, she said:
“Well, that is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature.”
“This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it’s not off the table.”
South Africa, once regarded as Africa’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted migrants seeking employment and economic opportunities. However, with unemployment remaining above 30 percent, the country has witnessed repeated waves of anti-immigrant protests and violence over the years.
The latest tensions have reignited discussions across the continent about migration, xenophobia and the challenges facing African integration despite long-standing pan-African ideals.
The recent ultimatum issued by an anti-immigration group has raised fears of renewed violence, recalling previous xenophobic attacks that claimed dozens of lives.
Last month, Ghana repatriated approximately 300 citizens, marking the first phase of a broader exercise expected to involve around 800 Ghanaian nationals.
South African authorities have maintained that while immigration laws will be enforced, citizens should refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
According to official statistics, more than three million foreign nationals currently reside in South Africa, representing about 5.1 percent of the country’s population. Over 63 percent of them are from member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
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