Xenophobia: South African authorities frustrate early evacuation of Nigerians

South African authorities on Wednesday frustrated the early evacuation of Nigerians who had been readied for the first batch of airlift from that country, a source told BusinessDay.

Air Peace flight, which left Nigeria 11:30pm Tuesday, arrived OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg about 4:00am yesterday and Nigerians turned up for the airlift for 9am. However, the flight did not take off till 4pm.

The flight which was billed to evacuate 320 Nigerians was only able to evacuate about 185 Nigerians because the South African authorities barred the rest from making the trip.

Investigations show that the aircraft was taxiing to leave the airport in the morning when they were stopped by the South African authorities.

Informed Nigerians at the High Commission in Johannesburg said that after the Commission had prepared the first 320 Nigerians for the first evacuation, the South Africa Immigration started causing problem by arresting Nigerians due to travel, demanding papers and accused them of travelling without the right document.

The Nigerian High Commission had prepared travel documents for the Nigerians but Immigration wanted to know how the Nigerians came into the country and began to arrest them, the official disclosed.

Informed sources also revealed that the South African authorities told some of the returnees to sign undertaking that they won’t come back to South Africa again, which was a difficult decision to make and this further delayed the process.

“South Africa is frustrating Nigeria. The Air Peace aircraft has been there since 4:00am. Their Immigration started giving our High Commission problems. They said some Nigerians didn’t have papers. Immigration is arresting them, asking them to explain how they came to South Africa,” the official said.

“As at 2pm today (Wednesday), only 182 Nigerians were allowed to board the flight; the rest were being barred by South Africa Immigration. They are frustrating the Nigerian High Commission, taking the passengers away.

“They want to frustrate the airline and the Nigerian government. The aircraft has been on, burning fuel since 4:00am. They are not happy that Nigeria is evacuating its citizens. They don’t want the world to know that a Nigerian airline and Nigerian government are evacuating them.

“Our high Commission is having tough time with South African government. They are stopping and arresting Nigerians, saying they should explain how they came into the country,” the official further said.

Air Peace said the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa would cost the airline about N300 million, which include the payment of passenger service charge, aeronautical and other charges in addition to the cost of operation.

 

IFEOMA OKEKE