Nigeria Delays Evacuation of Citizens from South Africa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a postponement of the evacuation of its citizens from South Africa, which was necessitated by unexpected administrative operational challenges amid escalating xenophobic violence. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that the first batch of repatriated Nigerians, originally set to depart on Monday, has been rescheduled to Wednesday.

This adjustment is attributed to logistical issues encountered during the planning phase. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has authorized five repatriation flights to facilitate the safe return of affected citizens.

The initial flight is expected to carry approximately 270 Nigerians from Johannesburg. The government is also extending the evaluation process for individuals requesting emergency evacuation until Wednesday to accommodate stranded citizens.

So far, 500 individuals have been screened and confirmed for the evacuation mission in Pretoria.