Frustrated Nigerians awaiting repatriation from South Africa on Monday staged a peaceful protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, decrying delays in evacuation flights amid rising anti-immigration tensions in the country.
The protesters, many of whom chanted “We no go gree,” called on the Federal Government to expedite arrangements for their return, lamenting that several women and children had been left without food, shelter and other basic necessities.
Speaking in a video recorded during the protest, one of the affected Nigerians expressed disappointment over the lack of a definite timeline for the evacuation exercise.
He said although the Federal Government had reportedly approved five aircraft for the operation, only one had arrived, leaving hundreds of stranded citizens uncertain about their fate.
“I didn’t really support what the ambassador said because he didn’t give a specific date for the flights. From what we know, the government approved five aircraft, but only one came. The remaining four are nowhere to be found.
“There are women and children stranded here. Some of them sleep outside in this weather without food, shelter or blankets,” he lamented.
The protester questioned the repeated postponement of the flights, insisting that many Nigerians were eager to return home due to mounting tensions in South Africa.
“We want to know what is happening. One flight is not enough. We were told there would be five. Where are the remaining four? We are ready to go home. Most of us have homes in Nigeria. We are not here because we are desperate; we are here because we love South Africa,” he added.
Addressing the protesters, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, dismissed reports that the repatriation exercise had been cancelled.
According to him, the operation was only temporarily suspended for operational reasons and assured affected Nigerians that evacuation would be completed before June 30.
“Contrary to insinuations making the rounds, the repatriation exercise has not been cancelled. It was only temporarily suspended due to operational reasons,” Ajayi said.
The demonstration comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks and anti-immigration sentiments in South Africa, which have prompted many Nigerians to seek assistance to return home.
Before the protest, scores of Nigerians had undergone screening at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria as part of preparations for the evacuation exercise.
Although 268 Nigerians were recently flown back to the country, more than 742 others are still stranded across different provinces in South Africa.
The delay has triggered fresh calls on the Federal Government to accelerate the evacuation process and provide immediate relief for affected citizens.
