FG Deploys Aircraft to Evacuate Nigerians in South Africa After Screening Concludes

Michael Olugbode in Abuja 

The federal government is advancing to the next stage of its emergency repatriation plan for Nigerians stranded in South Africa. Aircraft deployment is expected to begin immediately after the screening exercise that concluded yesterday.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, informed journalists in a WhatsApp group that the verification process, which started on Thursday, is being carried out 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. The goal is to determine which individuals are eligible for evacuation.

He added that the exercise should produce a definitive count of Nigerians cleared for return, allowing authorities to finalize logistics for the airlift operation.

“At the end of the screening, we will have a definite figure that has been cleared for evacuation. Thereafter, the government will finalise the details about the deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” Ebienfa said.

The planned evacuation comes amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other foreign nationals in South Africa, following renewed attacks, intimidation, and threats linked to anti‑immigrant sentiment in parts of the country.

Reports of violence, looting, and harassment targeting African migrants have heightened anxiety among the Nigerian community, prompting many to seek assistance from Nigerian authorities to return home.

This repatriation effort follows a series of xenophobic incidents that have periodically strained relations between Africa’s two largest economies. In earlier waves of attacks, Nigerian‑owned businesses were vandalised and several citizens were forced to flee affected communities. Similar incidents in 2008, 2015, and 2019 resulted in deaths, injuries, and the displacement of thousands of foreign nationals.

The situation intensified in recent weeks after reports emerged of growing hostility toward migrants in some South African communities, leading more than 1,000 Nigerians to register for voluntary evacuation.

Ebienfa said the ongoing screening is intended to verify identities, immigration status, and travel documentation to ensure a smooth and orderly evacuation process.

“Once the verification exercise is completed, aviation and diplomatic authorities are expected to determine the number of aircraft required, flight schedules and reception arrangements for returnees in Nigeria,” Ebienfa revealed.