The Federal Government has postponed the planned repatriation of Nigerians in South Africa, shifting the exercise from Monday to Wednesday due to what officials described as “unforeseen logistical considerations.”
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who confirmed the change in schedule but did not disclose further details about the delay.
The evacuation is part of Nigeria’s response to renewed xenophobic tensions in South Africa, which prompted more than 1,000 Nigerians to register for voluntary return to the country.
Although authorities have yet to confirm whether the returnees will arrive in Abuja or Lagos, reports indicate that Air Peace is expected to operate the repatriation flight.
Prior to the planned evacuation, Nigerian officials conducted a screening exercise for registered citizens to determine those eligible for the programme.
In a bid to ease the process, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria also secured waivers from South African authorities, allowing some Nigerians with immigration-related issues to return home voluntarily instead of facing detention.
The development comes shortly after Ghana successfully repatriated nearly 300 citizens from South Africa as part of a similar evacuation programme.
Explaining the timeline, Ebienfa noted that although Nigeria submitted its list of returnees before Ghana, the Ghanaian request was processed first.
With the new date now fixed, affected Nigerians are expected to await further instructions from authorities regarding flight details and final travel arrangements.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
