Africa-Press. The first group of Nigerian citizens has returned to their country from South Africa as part of a repatriation process organized by the government following a migration crisis and violent protests against migrants.
According to a local source, the flight to Lagos carried 262 passengers and three officials. The source had previously announced that over a thousand Nigerians had registered for voluntary return.
Authorities in Pretoria stated that the returnees were found to be residing in the country illegally, which contradicts the account of Nigerian officials who asserted that they were fleeing from xenophobic attacks.
Nigeria is the latest African country to organize evacuation flights from South Africa. Since April, a series of anti-migration protests have led to assaults targeting some foreigners.
These protests highlight tensions between foreign workers and local residents who believe that foreigners are taking job opportunities. Pretoria condemned these acts, describing them as xenophobic.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu stated that the president ordered the evacuation of citizens at risk who feel their lives are threatened by their continued presence there.
The minister added in a message to the returnees that “the price of your safety and the security of your children is not worth any sacrifices you may have to make or any property you may have to leave behind while fleeing from a conflict zone or a hate-filled environment.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Bernard Duro criticized the treatment of Nigerians, asserting that they were “living legally in South Africa.”
He said, “If there are cases of illegality, they should be determined on an individual basis. You cannot simply label all Nigerians residing in South Africa as illegal.”
Some returnees stated that they did not possess the proper documentation, while others mentioned that they had been unable to renew their residence permits for years due to immigration hurdles imposed by the authorities on Nigerians.
Citizen Eminaba Beatrice said, “I lived there for 11 years and faced mistreatment. We Nigerians were not granted residence permits because we are Nigerians.”
The Nigerian evacuation followed Ghana’s repatriation of about a thousand of its citizens from South Africa. South African officials noted that most of the returning Ghanaians lacked the necessary legal documents.
Liberia also expressed concern for the safety of its citizens, with local media reporting President Joseph Boakai stating that the government would take all necessary steps, including facilitating similar return operations to Liberia.
According to the South African Department of Home Affairs, the cases of 586 Nigerians were processed in preparation for their return after it was confirmed they lacked legal residency documents. The next group is scheduled to depart on Monday.
The Minister of Home Affairs Leon Schreiber stated that these individuals received emergency travel documents issued by the Nigerian High Commission and were also classified as “undesirable persons,” being banned from entering South Africa for five years.
He said, “Foreign nationals must ensure that their immigration status remains compliant with South African immigration laws at all times and that they regularize their residency status legally.”
