Over 700 Nigerians remain stranded in South Africa as deadline loom

More than 700 Nigerians remain stranded across South Africa as delays in the release of government-approved funds continue to stall evacuation efforts ahead of a June 30 deadline reportedly issued by anti-immigration groups targeting foreign African nationals.

Although President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved funding for four evacuation flights, bureaucratic delays have prevented the disbursement of the funds, leaving hundreds of registered Nigerians awaiting repatriation amid growing security concerns.

According to officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), over 1,000 Nigerians registered with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria for evacuation. However, only 324 have returned home so far through government-backed and private sector interventions.

The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos aboard an Air Peace flight on June 11, while another 66 Nigerians were flown home on a ValueJet flight on June 24.

Officials said the remaining evacuees have been unable to leave because funds approved for additional Air Peace flights have yet to be released. The airline is reportedly unwilling to deploy aircraft for further evacuation until payment is confirmed.

The prolonged delay has heightened anxiety among Nigerians still in South Africa, particularly amid reports of renewed anti-foreigner sentiment in parts of the country.

President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, alleged that more than 20 Nigerians have lost their lives since the latest wave of xenophobic attacks began.

He also claimed that several Nigerians have been assaulted, displaced from their homes and forced to abandon their businesses due to escalating tensions.

The Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria has urged registered evacuees to remain on standby, assuring them that evacuation flights will resume once the funding process is completed.

Meanwhile, Nigerian diplomats have continued engagements with South African authorities, calling for adequate protection of the lives and property of Nigerians and other foreign nationals. They also requested enhanced security in areas with large migrant populations as concerns grow over possible unrest ahead of the June 30 deadline.

Government officials say efforts are ongoing to resolve the funding issues and complete the evacuation of the remaining Nigerians as quickly as possible.