Nigerians stranded in South Africa have staged a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria over delays in the Federal Government's evacuation programme, as anxiety grows ahead of a June 30 deadline set by anti-immigrant groups in the country.
Protesters Demand Immediate Repatriation
Videos circulating online showed protesters chanting, 'We wan go o, we no go gree,' while demanding immediate action from Nigerian authorities to facilitate their return home. The demonstration comes weeks after the Federal Government began evacuating Nigerians who volunteered to return amid rising xenophobic tensions and anti-migrant protests across South Africa.
According to reports, many of the protesters had already registered for the government-assisted repatriation programme but were frustrated by delays affecting subsequent evacuation flights. The Nigerian government had earlier assured citizens that no Nigerian willing to return home would be abandoned.
Government's Evacuation Efforts
On June 18, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu reassured Nigerians in South Africa that the government was committed to ensuring their safe return. Her assurance followed the successful evacuation of the first batch of returnees amid fears of escalating anti-immigrant sentiment.
The first evacuation flight arrived in Lagos on June 11, bringing back 268 Nigerians as part of a government-coordinated repatriation exercise approved by President Bola Tinubu. Officials said more than 1,000 Nigerians had registered for voluntary evacuation.
Delays and Frustration
However, frustration mounted after a planned second evacuation flight failed to take off as scheduled. The President of the Nigerian Union South Africa (NUSA), Smart Nwobi, disclosed that about 300 Nigerians who were scheduled to return home in the second batch were left stranded after the flight was cancelled. According to him, many of the affected citizens had already gathered at the Nigerian mission in Pretoria and were ready to travel before being informed of the cancellation.
Reports indicate that some returnees have been unable to make alternative arrangements and are now relying on government intervention to leave South Africa. The delay comes despite earlier government announcements that President Tinubu had approved five evacuation flights to repatriate Nigerians who wished to return from South Africa.
Causes of Delays
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously attributed delays in the evacuation programme to documentation, screening and verification exercises being conducted in collaboration with South African authorities. The ministry also established crisis response units in Pretoria and Johannesburg to coordinate assistance for affected Nigerians.
Nigeria began the evacuation exercise after months of anti-immigration protests in South Africa, where foreign nationals have increasingly become targets of hostility. Anti-migrant groups have intensified campaigns against undocumented foreigners, while Nigerian authorities cited concerns about xenophobic attacks and threats to the safety of citizens.
Growing Anxiety as Deadline Approaches
As the June 30 deadline approaches, many Nigerians awaiting evacuation say they are growing increasingly worried and are urging Abuja to speed up the process before tensions escalate further.
