The Federal Government has announced that the screening of Nigerians in South Africa who registered for voluntary evacuation following renewed xenophobic attacks will be concluded today.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed this on Saturday, stating that the exercise, which began on Thursday, is being jointly conducted by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Police Service, and immigration authorities.
Spokesperson for the Ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the screening process is aimed at determining the exact number of Nigerians eligible for evacuation.
According to him, once the exercise is completed, the government will finalize arrangements for the deployment of aircraft to facilitate the return of affected citizens to Nigeria.
“The screening exercise of Nigerians in South Africa who registered for evacuation will end today. At the conclusion of the process, we will have a definite figure of those cleared for evacuation. Thereafter, the government will finalize details regarding the deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” Ebienfa stated.
The evacuation initiative follows renewed anti-immigrant protests in the South African cities of Pretoria and Johannesburg, which have heightened concerns among foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Last month, the Federal Government announced plans to provide safe passage for Nigerians willing to return home amid growing tensions and security concerns arising from the attacks.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier revealed that 130 Nigerians initially registered for the voluntary repatriation programme when it was launched. However, recent reports indicate that the number of Nigerians seeking evacuation has surged to over 1,000 as more citizens express interest in returning to Nigeria.
The government has assured affected citizens of its commitment to ensuring their safe and orderly return while continuing diplomatic engagements with South African authorities over the situation.
Comments