The management of Nigeria’s major carrier, Air Peace, has debunked the report that it has suspended the evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa.
Allen Onyema, the Chairman and CEO of the airline, explained that Air Peace had not suspended the evacuation exercise, but was waiting for the Nigerian High Commission to get ready the next batch of Nigerians that would be taken out of the country that has become hostile to Africans.
He said that the airline would continue to bring back Nigerians who are willing to return to their country until the last evacuee is taken out of the former Apartheid enclave.
Onyema disclosed that indications from the Nigerian High Commission showed that about 1000 Nigerians are still willing to return home, and that the airlift would start after the Commission had completed the paper work to prepare them for the flight home.
“I said it earlier that Air Peace will bring back to our country all those Nigerians who are willing to return and we will continue to bring them back until the last evacuee is taken out of South Africa.
“I learnt from the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa that about 1000 Nigerians are willing to return home. So what Air Peace has agreed with the Commission is that when it finishes with documentation, settled with Immigration, then the High Commission will notify Air Peace which will deploy aircraft to bring them back.
“This is to avoid what happened last time when 320 passengers were expected to be airlifted but South African authorities allowed 187 to make the flight,” Onyema said.
