FG Denies Charging Nigerians for South Africa Evacuation

FG Denies Charging Nigerians for South Africa Evacuation
Says Evacuation Flights Fully Funded
Evacuates 593 Nigerians from South Africa

The Federal Government has dismissed allegations that Nigerian officials demanded money from citizens seeking evacuation from South Africa, insisting that all special repatriation flights were fully funded and free for returnees.

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the clarification was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, who described reports that staff of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa collected money from intending evacuees as false and misleading.

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According to the ministry, the evacuation exercise was organised at no cost to Nigerians fleeing the ongoing xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to place on record that all the special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees,” the statement said.

The ministry added that allegations that officials demanded payment before registering Nigerians for evacuation were “totally false” and urged the public to disregard such claims.

It disclosed that the Federal Government has so far evacuated 593 Nigerians from South Africa through a series of special flights.

The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11 aboard an Air Peace flight and was received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, before being handed over to relevant government agencies for documentation and profiling.

FG Denies Charging Nigerians for South Africa Evacuation

According to the ministry, logistical challenges delayed the second phase of the operation, forcing some stranded Nigerians to remain temporarily at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, where they were provided with accommodation and other forms of support.

The ministry also disclosed that a Nigerian philanthropist volunteered to sponsor the flight tickets of 66 stranded citizens, enabling them to return to Lagos on June 24 aboard South African Airways.

Another special evacuation flight arrived on June 30, bringing home 269 Nigerians and increasing the total number of returnees to 593.

The government said the evacuation exercise is ongoing, with 3 additional flights expected to bring back about 700 more Nigerians who have voluntarily registered and completed the required screening and clearance process.

According to the ministry, the third batch of the exercise is expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday, July 3, with 271 returnees scheduled to land at about 5:30 a.m.

The ministry commended the ministries, departments and agencies involved in the operation for their cooperation, describing their coordinated efforts as crucial to the success of the evacuation.

It added that the exercise reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians living abroad and ensuring that citizens affected by crises receive timely support, dignity and care.

“The evacuation process clearly underscores the priority accorded to the protection of Nigerian citizens overseas, which remains a central pillar of Nigeria’s foreign policy and a core responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the statement said.

The ministry assured that it would continue working with relevant stakeholders to safeguard the welfare of Nigerians wherever they reside.