The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard Air Peace, while a second batch of 66 Nigerians returned on June 24 via a privately supported intervention involving ValueJet
KaNo —
More than 700 Nigerians remain stranded in South Africa just days before a June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups, as bureaucratic delays continue to stall evacuation efforts approved by President Bola Tinubu.
Findings by the Punch revealed that despite presidential approval for emergency funding to evacuate the affected citizens, the release of funds has yet to be completed, leaving hundreds exposed to growing xenophobic attacks and worsening humanitarian conditions.
The evacuation plan, coordinated by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Nigeria High Commission in South Africa, has been plagued by logistical and administrative bottlenecks, particularly delays in disbursing funds to the designated airline, Air Peace.
The development comes amid escalating anti-foreigner sentiments across South Africa, raising fears for the safety of Nigerians who remain in volatile communities.
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Rev. Frank Onyekwelu, told Punch on Saturday, that the situation had become increasingly dire, revealing that over 20 Nigerians had died since the resurgence of xenophobic violence.
According to him, many others have been assaulted, displaced from their homes, or forced to abandon their businesses in the face of hostility and targeted attacks.
Data obtained from officials indicate that more than 1,000 Nigerians initially registered with the Federal Government for evacuation.
However, only 324 individuals have been successfully repatriated so far, leaving over 700 still stranded and vulnerable.
The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 aboard Air Peace, while a second batch of 66 Nigerians returned on June 24 via a privately supported intervention involving ValueJet.
He noted that challenges encountered after the initial flight were being addressed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, who has assured that all Nigerians who registered for evacuation would eventually be brought home.
However, investigations revealed that the core issue remains the delay in releasing funds to Air Peace, which had initially been contracted to conduct four additional evacuation flights using its Boeing 777 aircraft.
A senior aviation industry official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the airline had yet to commence the second phase of the evacuation due to unresolved payment issues.
“Air Peace was supposed to complete the rescue mission in four flights, but even before the operation began, there were indications that multiple airlines were bidding for the contract,” the source said.
“Despite that, Air Peace has traditionally handled such evacuations. However, it has not proceeded with the operation because payment has not been made.”
The source added that rising aviation fuel costs and operational expenses have made it difficult for airlines to undertake such missions without upfront payment.
The delay, she noted, prompted the intervention of ValueJet, which facilitated the return of the second batch of evacuees by sponsoring tickets on a commercial flight operated by South African Airways.
Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also confirmed that the second evacuation flight initially scheduled earlier in the week had to be cancelled due to the same payment bottleneck.
According to one official, Nigerians who had already been asked to report to the Nigeria High Commission in Johannesburg in preparation for departure were left stranded after the flight failed to materialise.
The official disclosed that some of the affected individuals, unable to return to their previous accommodations, were temporarily housed and fed by the High Commission while awaiting further developments.
The situation, he said, prompted the mission to appeal to well-meaning Nigerians for assistance, which led to ValueJet’s intervention.
“The owner of ValueJet stepped in and paid for 66 tickets to bring them back to Lagos,” he added.
Despite the setbacks, the official expressed optimism that the payment issues could be resolved in the coming days, paving the way for the resumption of evacuation flights.
“I believe that between now and Monday, we should be able to confirm when the next flight will depart,” he said. “The challenge is not approval; it is ensuring that the funds reach Air Peace so they can schedule their operations.”
“The Federal Government remains committed to evacuating all affected Nigerians,” the official said. “However, issues such as aircraft availability and funding delays have slowed down the process.”
The prolonged delay has heightened anxiety among stranded Nigerians, many of whom are reportedly living in fear as tensions continue to rise in host communities.
The evacuation effort underscores broader concerns about the safety of Nigerians abroad and the need for swift and coordinated government response mechanisms in times of crisis.
As the June 30 deadline approaches, pressure is mounting on relevant authorities to expedite the process and ensure the safe return of all affected citizens.
