Stranded Nigerians Protest Delay In Second Repatriation Flight From South Africa

Nigerians living in South Africa on Monday protested at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria over the delay in evacuating citizens who had registered to return home.

The protest comes days after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, assured Nigerians in South Africa that the government would not abandon anyone willing to return to Nigeria.

She gave the assurance on June 18 as concerns grew over a June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigrant groups demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country.

Her statement followed the successful evacuation of 258 Nigerians from South Africa, marking the first government-organised repatriation flight amid increasing xenophobic attacks and tensions.

The federal government had earlier announced plans to conduct four additional flights to bring more Nigerians back home.

However, the second evacuation flight, which was expected to depart on June 15, was later postponed, leaving many people stranded.

During the protest, several Nigerians expressed disappointment over the delay, saying they had already registered for the voluntary return programme and were waiting for the government to fulfil its promise.

Speaking to reporters, Smart Nwobu, president of the Nigerian community in South Africa, urged the federal government to speed up the evacuation process.

“As you know, only one flight left. The question is, when is the second batch? When is the third batch? When is the fourth batch?”

“We were promised that the second batch will be here on the 15th of June. The 15th has come and left. People were made destitute and their conditions worsened.

“Nigerians are now sleeping on the street, and their documents have been cancelled as a result of that registration,” Nwobu asked.

Nwobu explained that the protest was organised to draw the government’s attention to the suffering of those still waiting to be evacuated.

He added that the protesters want the evacuation completed before the June 30 deadline and are calling on the authorities to urgently arrange flights to bring them back to Nigeria.

“We are appealing to the government. That is why they are here; to show their frustration and that they are not happy with the situation.

“Nigerians are gathered here, calling on the government to expedite the process and airlift them on or before June 30,” he added.

ALSO READ: First Batch Of Repatriated Nigerians Arrive In Lagos From South Africa