Government completes screening of Nigerians for evacuation from South Africa

The Federal Government has finished screening Nigerians who signed up for evacuation from South Africa, setting the stage for the final steps to bring them home.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced this in a statement, noting that the screening began on Thursday, June 4, and involved several Nigerian and South African agencies.

Officials from the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Police Service, and immigration authorities carried out the exercise together.

The purpose of the screening was to confirm the identities and eligibility of Nigerians who expressed a desire to return amid growing security concerns.

With the screening now complete, authorities will determine the final number of Nigerians cleared for evacuation.

“The Government will subsequently conclude arrangements for the deployment of aircraft to convey the evacuees back to Nigeria,” the statement added.

The planned evacuation follows a wave of xenophobic attacks and heightened worries about the safety of Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.

The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad and ensuring the safe return of those affected by the latest anti‑foreigner violence.