THE FEDERAL Government said it has concluded plans to evacuate the first batch of Nigerians from South Africa following concerns over xenophobic attacks and rising anti-immigration tensions in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the affected Nigerians would depart O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday night and are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos by about 5:00 a.m. on Thursday.
Ebienfa said the evacuation would be carried out by Air Peace Airline and fully funded by the Federal Government, with no cost to the evacuees. He added that relevant ministries, departments and agencies had put measures in place to receive and support the returnees upon arrival.
According to him, the evacuees will undergo documentation and profiling before receiving necessary assistance and being reunited with their families.
The evacuation comes amid continuing anti-immigration protests in South Africa, where thousands of demonstrators marched through communities in Johannesburg’s East Rand area of Gauteng Province on Monday.
The protests followed a national address by President Cyril Ramaphosa, who announced measures aimed at strengthening migration management, tightening border controls and improving enforcement of immigration laws. He also pledged action against employers found hiring undocumented migrants and warned against vigilantism and violence targeting foreign nationals.
Despite the president’s assurances, many protesters expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that foreign nationals were receiving preferential treatment in employment and placing additional pressure on public services such as healthcare and education.
Protest leaders called for stricter enforcement of immigration laws and increased job opportunities for South African citizens. Some activists also urged undocumented migrants to regularise their status or leave the country by the end of June, while maintaining that their movement opposed violence.
South African police said they would continue monitoring demonstrations and urged participants to remain peaceful.
South Africa has experienced a rise in anti-immigration protests in recent months, driven by concerns over unemployment, pressure on public services and border management, prompting growing concern among foreign nationals, including Nigerians living in the country.
