- NiDCOM Confirms Over 1,000 Nigerians for South Africa Return Exercise
- Air Peace to Begin Evacuation from South Africa Next Week
- Tinubu Approves Repatriation
The Federal Government has concluded plans to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa following a screening exercise for citizens who have opted to return home voluntarily.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday.
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She explained that the screening exercise is being jointly coordinated by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, the exercise entered its third day on Saturday and has witnessed a significant turnout of Nigerians seeking to participate in the voluntary evacuation programme.
She noted that the process has been conducted smoothly under the supervision of Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Olatunde Ajayi.
The NiDCOM boss revealed that more than 1,000 Nigerians have already registered for the programme, while registration remains open for others interested in returning.
She added that evacuation flights are expected to begin next week through Air Peace after President Bola Tinubu approved funds for the operation.
According to her, five flights have been scheduled for the repatriation exercise, with the first group of returnees expected to arrive in Nigeria next week.
The evacuation initiative comes amid rising concerns over the safety of foreign nationals following recent anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa.
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