Some Nigerians awaiting repatriation from South Africa on Monday protested at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria over delays in evacuation flights and the processing of their return to Nigeria.
A video circulating on social media showed stranded Nigerians expressing frustration over the prolonged wait and demanding that authorities expedite arrangements for their return home.
“We no go gree o, we wan go,” the protesters chanted, insisting they wanted to be repatriated home from South Africa as previously arranged.
Following rising xenophobic attacks in that country, hundreds of Nigerians underwent screening at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria as part of the Federal Government’s evacuation programme, with officials working to finalise flight arrangements for returnees.
On June 18, the minister of foreign affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu assuredNigerians living in South Africa that no citizen willing to return home would be abandoned as a June 30 deadline set by anti-migrant groups for undocumented foreigners to leave the country draws near.
While 258 Nigerians have been successfully evacuated from South Africa, over 742 registered citizens reportedly remain stranded across various provinces, facing hunger and homelessness due to flight logistics delays, prompting urgent calls for the federal government to expedite their repatriation.
The federal government had pledged that four more repatriation flights would return Nigerians from South Africa. However, the second batch, initially scheduled for June 15, was later postponed.
During the protest, many Nigerians expressed frustration over the slow pace of the evacuation process. They being left stranded after responding to the federal government’s call for voluntary return.
Speaking during the protest, president of the Nigerian community in South Africa, Smart Nwobu urged the federal government and relevant authorities to expedite the evacuation of stranded Nigerians.
“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,” he said.
Nwobu explained that the protesters gathered at the high commission to express their dissatisfaction with the situation and urge the government to complete the evacuation process before the end of June.
“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.
