The Federal Government has announced that the first batch of Nigerian nationals being evacuated from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks is expected to arrive in the country on Thursday.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the evacuees would depart Johannesburg late Wednesday aboard an Air Peace flight.
“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.
“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 that the Federal Government, through relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), had made adequate arrangements to receive and support the returnees.
“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.
Tensions in South Africa have intensified following an ultimatum issued last month by a citizen-led group demanding that undocumented foreign nationals leave the country by June 30.
Several African countries have begun repatriating their citizens, with Ghana and Mozambique already returning hundreds of nationals. Nigeria and Malawi have also announced plans to evacuate their citizens.
Last week, Nigeria disclosed that it intended to repatriate more than 1,000 citizens from South Africa.
“Total figure not out yet,” Ebienfa said. “We are expecting over a 1,000 persons.”
Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria said it had secured waivers from South African authorities to allow citizens with immigration-related offences to leave on repatriation flights rather than face detention.
On Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria was considering possible retaliatory measures in response to the hostility directed at Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
Asked whether retaliatory steps were being considered, the minister said the option remained under review.
“Well, that is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature,” she said. “This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it’s not off the table.”
South Africa, long regarded as one of Africa’s most industrialised economies, has historically attracted migrant workers from across the continent. However, persistent unemployment, currently above 30 per cent, has fuelled recurring anti-immigrant sentiments and episodes of xenophobic violence.
The latest tensions have reignited debate over migration, xenophobia and the disconnect between pan-African ideals and the realities faced by migrants across the continent.
Last month, Ghana repatriated about 300 citizens, the first batch of an estimated 800 nationals expected to return home.
While South African authorities have pledged to intensify efforts against undocumented immigration, the government has urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands.
According to South Africa’s statistics agency, more than three million foreign nationals reside in the country, representing about 5.1 per cent of the population. More than 63 per cent are from member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
