Nigeria to Evacuate Citizens from South Africa Amid Xenophobia

The Nigerian government is set to deploy aircraft to evacuate its citizens from South Africa amid rising concerns for their safety due to renewed xenophobic attacks. The screening process, which concluded recently, was conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO).

Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed that the verification process began on Thursday and aimed to determine the eligibility of Nigerians for evacuation. The exercise is expected to produce a definitive figure of those eligible for return, enabling the government to finalize logistics for the airlift operation.

The current repatriation effort follows a series of xenophobic incidents that have historically affected Nigerians in South Africa, prompting over 1,000 Nigerians to register for voluntary evacuation. The screening process intends to verify identities, immigration status, and travel documents to ensure a smooth and orderly evacuation.