More than 700 Nigerians remain stranded in South Africa with just days left before a June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups, raising fresh concerns over their safety amid rising xenophobic attacks.
Investigations revealed that although President Bola Tinubu approved funds for additional evacuation flights, administrative delays have stalled the release of the money, preventing hundreds of Nigerians from returning home.
Sources within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa said the delay has disrupted evacuation plans, leaving many Nigerians vulnerable as tensions continue to grow in parts of the country.
According to the officials, Air Peace, which was expected to handle the evacuation exercise, has not deployed additional aircraft because payment for the operation has yet to be confirmed.
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, said the situation remained alarming, noting that more than 20 Nigerians had reportedly lost their lives since the latest wave of anti-foreigner violence began. Others, he said, have suffered attacks, displacement and loss of businesses.
Officials disclosed that over 1,000 Nigerians registered for evacuation. So far, only 324 have been successfully returned to Nigeria through government-backed efforts and private intervention.
The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard an Air Peace flight, while another 66 returned on June 24 through ValueJet. That leaves more than 700 Nigerians still awaiting evacuation.
During the reception of the second batch, NiDCOM’s Lagos Liaison Office Coordinator, Dipo Odebowale, who represented the commission’s chairman, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended President Tinubu for supporting the evacuation process.
He stated that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, was working to resolve logistical challenges and had assured that all registered Nigerians would eventually be brought back home.
Industry sources said Air Peace had planned to deploy its Boeing 777 aircraft for four additional evacuation flights but had yet to receive payment despite presidential approval being granted over two weeks ago.
A senior aviation official familiar with the process said discussions over payment had slowed down the operation.
“Air Peace was expected to complete the evacuation in four flights. However, the airline has not proceeded with the operation because payment issues remain unresolved,” the source said.
The official added that ValueJet’s involvement in transporting the second batch of evacuees became necessary because negotiations with Air Peace were taking longer than expected.
A Foreign Affairs Ministry official disclosed that an Air Peace flight scheduled for Monday failed to take off because the financial arrangements had not been concluded.
According to the source, some Nigerians who had already reported for evacuation in Johannesburg were forced to return to the Nigerian High Commission after learning the flight would not proceed.
“The President approved the funds, but approval is different from the money reaching the airline’s account,” the official explained.
He said several stranded Nigerians had arrived at the High Commission with their belongings in anticipation of the flight.
Those unable to secure accommodation elsewhere were temporarily sheltered and fed by the mission while awaiting further updates on the evacuation schedule.
Officials say efforts are ongoing to resolve the administrative bottlenecks and ensure the remaining stranded Nigerians are evacuated as quickly as possible.
