The federal government says the repatriation flights for Nigerians in South Africa was delayed to complete documentation and screening in cooperation with South African authorities.
The screening exercise for over 1,000 Nigerian citizens in South Africa began last Thursday and was set to conclude on Saturday, with the repatriation flight scheduled for Monday.
Speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, said arrangements to evacuate Nigerian citizens who want to return are being finalised.
She noted that a crisis response unit has also been established at Nigeria’s consulate in Johannesburg and at the mission in Pretoria to coordinate assistance for affected citizens across provinces.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the evacuation is being conducted with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government agencies to ensure returnees are safely brought home and supported on arrival.
The minister also voiced strong displeasure over South Africa’s response to the xenophobic violence in the country, noting that Nigerians continue to face harassment, intimidation and attacks on their businesses despite multiple engagements.
“Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds, committed resources to aid South Africa,” she said.
“Our citizens are being harassed, their properties are being looted, criminal actions are being perpetrated against our citizens, and the police refuse to do anything.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said most of the victims harassed are legal migrants and accused the South African government of failing to condemn and stop the attacks robustly.
She noted that the federal government will continue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities while ensuring the safety and orderly return of Nigerians caught up in the crisis.
The minister noted that the government is making arrangements to help rehabilitate and reintegrate those who lost businesses and livelihoods during the unrest.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa had appealed for tolerance and unity in the wake of xenophobic attacks against African migrants in his country, reminding citizens that other African nations stood by the country during its struggle against apartheid.
On Monday, the president doubled down his condemnation of xenophobia and the harassment of foreign nationals.
He said only authorised law enforcement agencies have the right to enforce immigration laws.
