Nigeria to Evacuate Citizens from South Africa Amid Attacks

The Nigerian government will evacuate another batch of its citizens from South Africa on July 7, 2023, in response to a renewed wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other migrants. Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that the evacuation flight will depart from Johannesburg.

This is part of a series of repatriation efforts that began last month, with three previous batches already returned to Nigeria. The government has advised Nigerians in South Africa to weigh the risks of remaining in the country against the advantages of returning home.

The evacuation is being sponsored by the federal government, which has extended the operation beyond the initial June 30 deadline. Ojukwu condemned the recent killings of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana and Joe Charl Iroegbu, and called for urgent investigations into these incidents.

The Nigerian government remains committed to the safety and welfare of its citizens abroad and will implement necessary measures to protect them.