Nigeria Completes Evacuation Plans for Citizens in South Africa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has finalized its evacuation plans for Nigerians in South Africa due to a resurgence of xenophobic attacks. The screening exercise, announced by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, commenced on May 4, 2023, in collaboration with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the South African Police's Department of International Relations.

This exercise aims to determine the exact number of Nigerians registered for evacuation, which is expected to conclude today, May 6, 2023. The Nigerian government plans to deploy aircraft to bring citizens back home following the screening.

The decision to evacuate comes amid heightened fears among migrant communities due to recent anti-foreign protests and violence, reminiscent of previous xenophobic waves that began in 2008. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, indicated that 130 Nigerians initially registered for the evacuation program, with expectations that this number may exceed 1,000 as more citizens express interest in returning home.