…599 Nigerian citizens evacuated so far
…FG Demands Restitution From South Africa, begins documentation of abandoned businesses, properties
By Chike Ofili
The Federal Government on Tuesday intensified its evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa as Air Peace completed another humanitarian flight, bringing home hundreds of citizens fleeing growing anti-immigration tensions, while Abuja disclosed plans to seek compensation for businesses and properties abandoned by affected returnees.
The latest evacuation flight, operated by Air Peace from Johannesburg, landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Tuesday morning, marking the airline’s second humanitarian mission under the ongoing voluntary repatriation programme.
While Air Peace said it evacuated 271 Nigerians on the flight, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs put the official figure at 269 returnees, all of whom were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa and received on arrival by senior government officials led by the Director of the African Affairs Department, Ambassador Haruna Ali-Gombe.
The latest returnees add to the 66 Nigerians earlier evacuated aboard South African Airways on June 24 through the support of a Nigerian benefactor, as well as previous batches repatriated under the Federal Government’s voluntary return initiative.
Air Peace said the latest operation brings the total number of Nigerians it has evacuated in two humanitarian missions to 533, describing the exercise as part of its commitment to national service and the safety of Nigerians wherever they may be.
“The successful completion of our second humanitarian evacuation mission reaffirms our unwavering commitment to national service and the safety of Nigerians,” the airline stated.
Receiving the returnees, Ambassador Ali-Gombe conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s message of reassurance, affirming the Federal Government’s determination to protect Nigerian citizens abroad.
The evacuation comes against the backdrop of renewed anti-immigration sentiment in South Africa, where undocumented foreign nationals have been under pressure to leave following the June 30 deadline issued by groups campaigning against illegal migration. The development has heightened fears among African migrants amid fresh allegations that foreigners are taking jobs meant for South Africans.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation exercise remains ongoing, adding that more flights are expected in the coming days to bring back Nigerians who have voluntarily opted to return after being screened and cleared.
It also assured that the Federal Government would continue high-level diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to guarantee the safety and protection of Nigerians still residing in the country.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, disclosed that the Tinubu administration has begun documenting businesses, vehicles, and other assets abandoned by returning Nigerians as a prelude to demanding compensation from the South African government.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television, Ajayi said discussions had already commenced with South African officials on the issue.
According to him, returnees have been directed to accurately document every business, shop, vehicle, and other movable and immovable property left behind before departing South Africa.
He explained that the information would provide the basis for formal engagement with the South African government.
“This repatriation will not end with just taking people to Nigeria. We are going to systematically follow up on the information given to us,” Ajayi said.
He stressed that the Federal Government would work with South African authorities to verify the locations of the affected businesses and properties with a view to securing compensation.
“We will not allow the labour people have suffered to build over the years to just go down the drain or be taken over by people,” he added.
Ajayi also clarified that many of the Nigerians returning home opted for voluntary repatriation before any planned anti-immigration protests escalated, while noting that a significant number of Nigerians living in South Africa lack proper documentation.
The Federal Government has maintained that beyond evacuating stranded citizens, it is determined to protect their rights and pursue every legitimate avenue to recover losses suffered as a result of the worsening xenophobic climate in South Africa.