Leave now, FG tells citizens in S/Africa, intensifies evacuation efforts

The federal government has renewed its appeal to Nigerians living in South Africa to take advantage of the ongoing evacuation programme.

It warned that there are no indications that the wave of xenophobic attacks in the country is abating.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of Foreign Affairs, made the appeal on Monday following the deaths of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, who were reportedly killed amid the recent xenophobic violence in South Africa.

In a statement posted on her X account, titled “Last Call for Documentation for Nigerian Nationals for Ongoing Evacuations from South Africa on FG Chartered Flights”, the minister expressed concern over the worsening security situation and urged Nigerians whose lives may be at risk to return home through the Federal Government’s free evacuation programme.

“Nigeria remains concerned about the safety of its citizens in South Africa as a result of the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants, and even more so following the deaths of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during these unfortunate events,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also called on the South African authorities to launch an urgent investigation into the killings and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.

“We demand that South African authorities urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice and are urging our citizens who consider their lives at risk to take advantage of the FG-sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home,” she stated.

The minister warned that there were no signs of improvement in the security situation, stressing that Nigerians should not delay their decision to leave.

According to her, President Bola Tinubu had approved an extension of the evacuation exercise beyond the initial June 30 deadline after three successful evacuation operations.

She disclosed that the fourth evacuation flight arrived in Nigeria on July 3, while another chartered flight is scheduled to depart Lagos for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to bring home more stranded Nigerians.

She added that the final evacuation flight is expected to arrive in South Africa on July 10, urging Nigerians to carefully assess the risks of remaining in the country.

“Our citizens are strongly advised to take advantage of this extension and utilise the full capacity of the aircraft,” she said.

Describing the exercise as a final opportunity for many Nigerians still undecided, the minister cautioned that waiting until the evacuation programme ends before seeking government assistance could have grave consequences.

“For many still sitting on the fence, sending out distress calls after these evacuation exercises might have cconcluded andwhen there was an opportunity to leave, which they did not utilise, will not help matters,” she warned.

She reminded Nigerians that while material possessions can be replaced, lives cannot.

“They should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced, but not lives lost,” she added.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the FG’s commitment to safeguarding Nigerians abroad, saying all necessary measures would continue to be taken to protect the country’s citizens wherever they reside.

The renewed appeal comes days after the government condemned the killings of the two Nigerians and intensified evacuation efforts for citizens willing to return home.