Xenophobia: Screening of Nigerians for South Africa Evacuation Ends Saturday – FG

The Federal Government says the screening of Nigerians in South Africa who registered for voluntary evacuation following renewed xenophobic tensions will conclude on Saturday.

 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mr. Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this while speaking with journalists, noting that the exercise began on Thursday and is being jointly conducted by Nigerian diplomatic officials and South African authorities.

 

According to him, the screening involves the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the South African Police, and immigration services.

 

Ebienfa said the process is aimed at determining the final number of Nigerians cleared for evacuation.

 

“The screening exercise of Nigerians in South Africa that have registered to be evacuated will end today. At the end of the screening, we will have a definite figure that has been cleared for evacuation. Thereafter, government will finalise the details about deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” he said.

 

He added that arrangements would be concluded after the exercise for aircraft deployment to repatriate affected citizens back to Nigeria.

 

The evacuation plan follows rising anti-immigrant tensions and protests in parts of South Africa, including Pretoria and Johannesburg, which have heightened concerns among foreign nationals.

 

Last month, the Federal Government announced plans to assist willing Nigerians to return home voluntarily amid the unrest.

 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had earlier disclosed that about 130 Nigerians initially registered for the evacuation programme, with the figure expected to rise as more citizens indicated interest.