Nigerians on Monday staged a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa, over delays in the repatriation of citizens who had registered for voluntary return to Nigeria.
The demonstration followed concerns over the slow pace of evacuation despite assurances from the federal government that no Nigerian willing to return home would be abandoned ahead of a June 30 deadline reportedly set by anti-migrant groups for undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa.
On June 18, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, had assured Nigerians in South Africa that the government would ensure their safe return. Her statement came after the first government-led evacuation flight, which airlifted 258 Nigerians amid rising xenophobic tensions in the country.
The federal government had earlier announced plans for four additional repatriation flights to bring more Nigerians back home. However, the second batch, initially scheduled for June 15, was later postponed, deepening frustration among affected citizens.
During Monday’s protest, several Nigerians expressed anger over what they described as abandonment after responding to the government’s voluntary return registration exercise.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Smart Nwobu, president of the Nigerian community in South Africa, urged authorities to urgently speed up the evacuation process.
“As you know, only one flight left. The question is, when is the second batch? When is the third batch? When is the fourth batch?” he said.
“We were promised that the second batch will be here on the 15th of June. The 15th has come and gone. People were made destitute and their conditions worsened.
“Nigerians are now sleeping on the street, and their documents have been cancelled as a result of that registration.”
He said the protest at the High Commission was to register their frustration and demand immediate action from the Nigerian government.
“We are appealing to the government. That is why they are here; to show their frustration and that they are not happy with the situation,” he added.
“Nigerians are gathered here, calling on the government to expedite the process and airlift them on or before June 30.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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