The Federal Government has concluded the screening and verification of Nigerians seeking evacuation from South Africa and is set to begin arrangements for the deployment of aircraft to bring eligible citizens back home.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed that the next phase of the emergency repatriation exercise will commence following the completion of the screening process, which ended on Saturday.
Spokesman of the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the verification exercise was conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the South African Police Service and immigration authorities.
According to him, the exercise was designed to establish the exact number of Nigerians eligible for evacuation and to facilitate the planning of the airlift operation.
“At the end of the screening, we will have a definite figure that has been cleared for evacuation. Thereafter, the government will finalise the details about the deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” Ebienfa said.
The planned evacuation follows growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa amid reports of renewed attacks, intimidation and threats linked to anti-immigrant sentiment in parts of the country.
Recent incidents involving violence, looting and harassment of foreign nationals have heightened fears within migrant communities, prompting many Nigerians to seek assistance from the Federal Government to return home.
The latest development comes against the backdrop of recurring xenophobic attacks that have periodically strained relations between Nigeria and South Africa. Previous outbreaks of violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019 resulted in deaths, injuries and the displacement of thousands of African migrants, including Nigerians.
Authorities said more than 1,000 Nigerians registered for voluntary evacuation following reports of increasing hostility toward migrants in some South African communities.
Ebienfa explained that the screening exercise focused on verifying identities, immigration status and travel documents to ensure an orderly and transparent evacuation process.
He added that aviation and diplomatic authorities would now determine the number of aircraft required, flight schedules and reception arrangements for returnees upon arrival in Nigeria.
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad and ensuring the safe return of citizens affected by the situation in South Africa.
