Hundreds of Nigerian nationals awaiting evacuation from South Africa staged a protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria on Monday, chanting “we wan go, we no go gree” as frustration mounted over delays in repatriation flights following weeks of xenophobic tensions .
The protesters had gathered at the diplomatic mission to demand clarity on evacuation arrangements before taking to the streets. A video clip shared by News Central TV captured the stranded Nigerians expressing their desperation, with many having exhausted their savings after travelling from distant provinces for registration and screening .
One Flight, Hundreds Left Behind
The Federal Government had promised to deploy five chartered evacuation flights via Air Peace to repatriate Nigerians from South Africa, but so far only one flight has taken off .
On June 11, 268 Nigerians arrived in Lagos from Johannesburg, leaving nearly 600 to 700 others still awaiting evacuation . While South African authorities have processed 586 Nigerian nationals for repatriation after finding them residing in the country illegally, the second flight scheduled for June 15 was reportedly cancelled due to technical issues or payment disputes involving the airline .
Humanitarian Crisis on the Ground
The Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) has raised the alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation facing stranded citizens .
According to NICASA National President Frank Onyekwelu, “numerous families, including women and children, are stranded without shelter, food, transportation or financial means to sustain themselves” . Some have been left sleeping in difficult conditions outside the High Commission, uncertain of when they will return home .
“Several have exhausted their limited resources after travelling long distances in good faith, believing arrangements had been adequately concluded for their departure,” Onyekwelu lamented .
The association also raised concerns over allegations of humiliation, insensitive treatment, and poor communication from certain officials during the registration and screening exercise .
June 30 Deadline Looms
The urgency is compounded by a June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa . The deadline has heightened fear among migrant communities, with many anxious about potential violence when the date approaches .
Other African countries, including Ghana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Mozambique, have already completed or progressed with evacuation exercises ahead of the deadline .
Calls for Urgent Intervention
NICASA has made an urgent appeal to the Federal Government, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the National Assembly to intervene immediately .
“Our citizens are not merely statistics. They are fathers, mothers, children, students, workers and entrepreneurs who have found themselves in desperate circumstances. Their cries for help must not go unanswered,” the association stated .
The association has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deploy emergency resources and establish a humanitarian support mechanism for stranded Nigerians pending departure. It also urged relevant agencies to facilitate the remaining four evacuation flights .
Government Assurances
Meanwhile, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has assured that everyone registered for evacuation will be returned to Nigeria, urging patience as the government works to ensure a smooth execution of the programme .
The Federal Government had previously approved the evacuation following reports of harassment, intimidation, and attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants living in South Africa .
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