Nigeria Delays First Evacuation Flight From South Africa Amid Xenophobic Tensions

The Federal Government has postponed the planned evacuation of Nigerian citizens seeking to return from South Africa following renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the first batch of returnees, initially scheduled to depart on Monday, will now be airlifted on Wednesday due to logistical adjustments.

In a statement issued on Monday, spokesperson for the ministry, Kimiebi Ebienfa, explained that operational considerations necessitated the change in schedule.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu approved five evacuation flights to facilitate the return of affected Nigerians, with private carrier Air Peace designated to operate the flights.

The first flight is expected to transport approximately 270 passengers from Johannesburg once all flight approvals and operational clearances are completed.

Ebienfa also disclosed that authorities had extended the screening and verification process for Nigerians interested in returning home.

“I received confirmation from our mission in Pretoria that the screening exercise for Nigerians who have indicated interest in returning has been extended until Wednesday,” he said.

He added that more than 500 Nigerians had already completed the screening process and were cleared for evacuation.

The evacuation effort follows growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa after renewed incidents of xenophobic violence sparked fears among affected communities.

Officials said arrangements remain ongoing to ensure the smooth return of all Nigerians who have registered for the exercise.

#UTVAfrica#