*Will not pay for repatriation
WorldStage– The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has said that more than 1,000 Nigerians in South Africa have undergone screening for voluntary repatriation being facilitated by the Federal Government.
Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, disclosed in an interview said the screening was being conducted jointly by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.
According to her, Saturday marked the third day of the exercise for Nigerians intending to voluntarily return home from South Africa.
“The turnout at the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria has been truly impressive.
“The screening started early on Saturday, and Nigerians came out in large numbers to participate in the process.
“In spite of the emotional atmosphere surrounding the prevailing tensions and uncertainty, the exercise has been smooth, peaceful, organised, and highly professional under the supervision of the Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner, Amb. Olatunde Ajayi.
“More than 1,000 Nigerians have registered for the voluntary evacuation, and many more are registering.
“All things being equal, the flights are expected to commence next week through Air Peace, as President Bola Tinubu has approved funds for that purpose,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa added that five flights are expected to be deployed for the repatriation, with the first batch of evacuees scheduled to depart for Nigeria next week.
The repatriation of Nigerians is coming amid safety concerns of foreign nationals following recent anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa.
Meanwhile, Nigeria has extended the screening of its citizens, who are willing to be evacuated from South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks against Blacks in the country, to Wednesday.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu has approved five evacuation flights, which will be operated by Nigeria’s private airliner, Air Peace.
He added that the first flight that would transport about 270 passengers, was expected to leave Johannesburg on Monday evening.
“This is, if the necessary permits and clearance are secured for the aircraft.
“I just received confirmation from our Mission in Pretoria that the screening exercise of Nigerian nationals, who have indicated interest to be evacuated back home, has been extended to Wednesday.
“So far, over 500 persons have been screened and cleared,” Ebienfa said.
He further said that the flight’s departure and estimated time of arrival in Lagos would be provided in due course, subject to updates from Nigeria’s High Commission in South Africa.
GOVT WILL NOT PAY FOR REPATRIATION
Nigerians to be evacuated from South Africa will not bear the cost of their repatriation, Mr Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has said.
Ebienfa said the ministry would deploy aircraft to bring them home.
According to him, the screening of Nigerians in South Africa who registered for evacuation will end on Saturday.
“The process, which commenced on June 4, is a joint exercise involving the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, as well as the South African Police and immigration authorities.
“At the end of the screening, we will have a definite number of persons cleared for evacuation.
“Thereafter, we will finalise arrangements for the deployment of aircraft to bring them home,” he said.
Ebienfa spoke against the backdrop of the Federal Government’s preparations to repatriate Nigerians from South Africa under a voluntary evacuation programme following concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in the Southern African country and the recent anti-immigrant protests held in parts of the country.
