The Federal Government (FG) has assured Nigerians stranded in South Africa that no citizen willing to return home will be abandoned, saying President Bola Tinubu has directed that every effort be made to ensure their safe evacuation amid the ongoing wave of xenophobic protests in the country.
Speaking on Wednesday during an exclusive interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, Ogun State, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said the Federal Government expanded the evacuation operation after the successful completion of the first flight, noting that additional flights were approved to facilitate the return of more Nigerians.
He, however, disclosed that the latest scheduled flight was delayed following a technical fault on the aircraft assigned for the mission.
“Subsequently, we also secured approval for four additional flights and out of that four additional flights, two have been operated. Today, we are supposed to witness the arrival of the fourth flight from South Africa but due to technical reasons, it might not maybe arrive today because the aircraft that was deployed by Air Peace to Johannesburg developed technical issues. We are told that the windscreen in the cockpit has some cracks or imploded or something like that”
Ebienfa added that the evacuation exercise has recorded significant progress, with hundreds of Nigerians already repatriated, while arrangements are in place to bring back more citizens through the remaining approved flights.
“But for nationals that have returned to the country, so far we have evacuated 859 Nigerians from South Africa. We also have the capacity of the aircraft for 271. So if we have additional two flights, if they are all fully explored, I think we will have additional or over 500 and something more national that will return in the next few days. So that is the updates so far for the evacuation process.” he said.
The ministry spokesperson said the ministry would seek fresh presidential approval for additional evacuation flights if the remaining capacity proves insufficient, noting that the President had given a firm assurance that every willing Nigerian would be brought home.
According to him: “If we have a very large number that still indicates interest to leave, definitely the Ministry will have to approach the Presidency again with the additional demand, additional data and work out the solution on how best to bring them back because Mr President has promised that no Nigerian willing to return will be left stranded or abandoned in South Africa. So with that promise, we are confident that something positive will come out.”
Ebienfa also dismissed reports suggesting prospective evacuees are required to pay for their return, stressing that the entire evacuation programme is fully funded by the Federal Government
“It is purely free of charge at no cost to any of our nationals in South Africa. Purely free of charge. The aircraft is fully paid by governments.” he clarified.
He explained that all five evacuation flights approved for the operation had been financed by the Federal Government.
“All the five flights have been paid by the federal government for the process. So no Nigerian is being made to pay any money.”
The ministry spokesman also revealed that while awaiting evacuation, some Nigerians who fled their homes over security concerns have been receiving temporary accommodation and welfare support at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
He said the mission had provided basic necessities for displaced Nigerians, while a private Nigerian also sponsored the return of 66 citizens through commercial flights.
“So in that duration, a lot of Nigerians were cut out or temporarily accommodated at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria. The mission has to take the responsibility to provide sleeping items, refreshment items for them to make them comfortable. Then a good-spirited Nigerian decided to pay for 66 Nigerians. He procured tickets for them to return to the country via South African airways. So that is the only group of nationals from South Africa that a private individual committed his funds to bring them back. But that was not under compulsion, but it was a voluntary act by the good-spirited Nigerian.”
Ebienfa said the Federal Government has also continued to engage South African authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerians remaining in the country.
He disclosed that the ministry recently issued a strongly worded statement urging the South African government to strengthen security for foreigners.
“Yes, we issued a strong worded press statement on Sunday calling on the South African government to step up more efforts, better measures in protecting and guaranteeing the security of all foreigners in the country, including Nigerians.”
Ebienfa further explained that the ministry continues to provide consular support to Nigerians facing legal challenges abroad, including monitoring court proceedings and facilitating legal representation where necessary.
He said: “And it’s our responsibility as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that our missions provide consular services to Nigerians living abroad.”So even in cases whereby you have proceeding in court, the ministry usually sends officials to monitor the process, to make sure that it is transparent, to make sure that you are given fair hearing.It will even go to the extent of helping some of our nationals to get the services of a lawyer, because every Nigerian is important to this country. Every Nigerian is important to the government. We don’t discriminate.”
The ministry also confirmed that Nigeria is compiling information on businesses abandoned by citizens fleeing South Africa with a view to seeking compensation.
Ebienfa said Nigerians who are legally resident and operating registered businesses should not be forced to abandon their investments because of xenophobic attacks.
“Yeah, our nationals are leaving the country based on threats to their lives, based on threats to their businesses, based on acrophobic sentiments meted out to them by South African nationals but if you are leaving your established businesses, legally operated businesses, and you are leaving the country because you are being forced to do so, definitely the Nigerian government will request for compensation.”
On the issue of compensation, the ministry spokesperson said the Federal Government is documenting businesses and investments abandoned by Nigerians fleeing South Africa, stressing that those who legally established and operated businesses in the country should not be forced to bear losses resulting from xenophobic attacks.
He said Nigeria would engage the South African government once sufficient data on affected businesses had been compiled.
