South Africa Crisis: FG Begins Process To Evacuate Over 1000 Nigerians

The Federal Government is preparing to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa following growing anti-immigrant tensions in the country.

Naija News reports that the planned evacuation comes as concerns continue to rise over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa, where recent protests and attacks linked to immigration issues have created uncertainty for many Africans living there.

Screening for Nigerians interested in returning home under the voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday.

Officials said the registration exercise is ongoing and the final number of people to be evacuated has not yet been confirmed, though authorities expect the figure to exceed 1,000.

Foreign ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa said on Friday:“Total figure not out yet. We are expecting over a 1,000 persons.”

Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria disclosed that discussions had been held with South African authorities to allow Nigerians with immigration-related issues to leave the country through the repatriation arrangement instead of facing detention before departure.

In other news, former Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has lamented that despite efforts to facilitate the return of distressed Nigerians facing xenophobic attacks in South Africa, many rejected the offer.

Naija News reports that Peter Obi made this known at a dinner organised for Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) aspirants in Abuja on Monday.

The former Governor of Anambra State revealed that during interaction with some Nigerians in South Africa, many insisted that conditions in Nigeria were worse and would rather die in the country.