Hundreds of Nigerians awaiting evacuation from South Africa staged a protest on Monday at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, expressing frustration over delays in the Federal Government’s repatriation programme. Protesters chanted, “We wan go, we no go gree,” demanding immediate arrangements for their return to Nigeria.
The demonstrators said they had been promised additional evacuation flights after the first batch of returnees was airlifted to Nigeria, but subsequent flights have been delayed without clear timelines. Many complained of worsening living conditions while waiting for the process to be completed.
According to reports, about 258 Nigerians have already been evacuated, while more than 742 registered returnees remain stranded across various provinces in South Africa. Several of them claim they are facing severe hardship, including hunger, homelessness, and lack of financial support.
Leaders of the Nigerian community in South Africa said many people who registered for evacuation had already given up jobs, accommodation, and other means of livelihood in anticipation of returning home. They urged the Federal Government to fast-track the remaining evacuation flights before the June 30 deadline associated with planned anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa.
As of the latest reports, neither the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria nor the Federal Government had issued a detailed response to the protest.
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