Privately funded evacuation to repatriate 83 Nigerians from South Africa wednesday
A fresh batch of Nigerians is set to be repatriated from South Africa, a month after the federal government completed its evacuation process from the former apartheid country, following an uptick in xenophobic violence.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, foreign ministry spokesperson, clarified that the new exercise comprising a group of 83 Nigerians is facilitated by private individuals.
The group will arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Wednesday at approximately 08:45pm via South African Airways, Ebienfa said.
The exercise comes just weeks after the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa opened an online portal for nationals seeking to partake in a second repatriation exercise. But at the time, the exercise had yet to be confirmed.
Alexander Ajayi, Nigeria’s acting high commissioner to South Africa, told TheCable that the High Commission was compiling the data for future use once partners indicate their willingness to sponsor the return tickets.
The High Commission said it would keep the registration portal open until August 12 and urged private partners to support the move.
Ebienfa said the federal government acknowledged the “kind intervention” and sponsorship of tickets by the private individuals with “profound gratitude”.
“Their action is a sterling example of the ‘whole of society approach, public-private collaboration championed by the government in addressing challenges facing our citizens abroad,” the statement reads.
“The Ministry commends their patriotism and selflessness, which have significantly alleviated the plight of our compatriots in South Africa.”
The federal government urged other corporate organisations, state governments, and individuals to “emulate these worthy examples”.
The development comes as March and March, the controversial anti-migrant movement, set September 30 as the new deadline for illegal immigrants in South Africa to leave.
