NiDCOM Secures Release of Three Stranded Nigerians

Three Nigerian nationals stranded at Johannesburg airport have been cleared to depart South Africa due to the intervention of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM). The commission confirmed their situation in a statement, noting that they are expected to arrive in Lagos the following morning.

NiDCOM expressed concern over the circumstances that led to their detention, highlighting that one individual had previously made derogatory remarks about the South African government online, which may have contributed to their situation. The commission emphasized the reliance on unregulated visa agents as a key factor in such cases, where agents often collect passport data without proper knowledge of travel approval, leading to difficulties during immigration interviews.

NiDCOM advised Nigerians to use licensed agents to ensure accurate submission of visa applications and warned against inflammatory online posts that could lead to visa denials. The agency thanked the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa for its prompt intervention.