THE Federal Government is finalising arrangements to airlift another batch of stranded Nigerians in South Africa.
Over 300 Nigerians have already been evacuated in two different flights, one conveying 268 by the Federal Government and another private arrangement conveying 66.
The anti-immigration vigilante groups have set a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreign nationals, especially blacks, to leave the country, a development that has sparked widespread fear of xenophobic unrest, leading several African countries to evacuate thousands of their citizens.
The Nation reported sources in the Presidency as saying government was processing more flights as the June 30 deadline draws closer, even as they distanced the Federal Government from scheduled flight arrangements in the public domain.
According to one of the sources, the Federal Government had made a request for another flight and the financial aspect was being worked out, adding that the initial plan was to evacuate around 300 people and that was sorted out with the airline.
The additional names on the list were people who showed interest at a later date.
The source said only very few people initially indicated interest and that formed the basis for the initial arrangement leading to the evacuation of 286, noting that the last batch of about 90 Nigerians that were evacuated was done by a private intervention and were mainly the vulnerable- women and children.
The sources, however, said with the surge on the list, government had to do proper profiling before making a request, stressing that it was not an issue of funding, but of processes.
They also disclosed that the process involved those who were readily prepared to return and the need to also prepare necessary documents.
Confirming government efforts at evacuating another batch, spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said government was up and doing to ensure those wishing to leave were evacuated, adding that “more flights are currently processed.”
Meanwhile, anxiety and frustration have enveloped Nigerians awaiting evacuation, as the deadline draws near. Over 1,000 Nigerians are still awaiting evacuation.
President of Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA), Frank Onyekwelu, while calling for urgent action, said: “As you may know, the first flight that evacuated people took about 268 people, and Wednesday, another 66 people left through an arranged flight from a private person from Nigeria.
“So, we still have over 1,000 names remaining, which we’re hoping that the other four flights being approved by the government will be able to airlift.”
Onyekwelu said the conditions of those awaiting evacuation was not looking too good, especially as they have been displaced, adding that frustration has started setting in.
“So far, we might have about a thousand people remaining. It’s not sounding well. Some of them are really frustrated. Some of them are managing wherever they found themselves.
“As you may know, many of them came from far provinces and they are not living in Johannesburg here.
“So, currently, some of them are dispatched, hanging around in various places. Some in churches, in some community halls and the weather is not favourable.
“As you may know, we are in our winter season here in South Africa. So, it’s very cold and women and children being exposed to the cold weather. It’s a risk to their health. It’s also a risk to their general well-being.
“So, the economic challenges, some of them don’t have money to buy food or buy hygiene products to continue to manage and wait. It’s been two weeks now since the cancellation on June 15.”
He disclosed that support was coming from the Nigerian community, but pleaded with the government to hasten the process, noting: “The community is supporting where they can, buying groceries, buying food and some personal hygiene products, just to show them love and support.
“We continue to plead with our government and appeal that they will fast-track the process and whatever that is causing the technical delay, so that these people will be airlifted and they will find their way back home, where they can at least relax and have some peaceful sleep.
“So, the condition is not conducive for them. Many of them are squatting, you see like 10 to 15 people in one room or in one hall, struggling to manage and hold on until when they will get a confirmed date for evacuation.
“That is the current situation of our people.”
Onyekwelu said Nigerians have been sensitised on the need to take extra precautions ahead of the deadline, adding that in collaboration with the Nigeria’s mission in South Africa, NICASA had engaged some security personnel to help pass information around.
He stated: “We have been working hand in hand with our consulates and missions. We have issued a secular, public notice to engage our people for them to apply caution in movements, protect themselves first of all and safeguard their businesses or properties.
“We’ve engaged with some security personnel that will also help in passing information across to us or from us to the government, in terms of if there is any security situation or incident, anyone of our national having any situation, they will quickly alert us, while we will alert the government.”
He said Nigerians have been advised to shut their businesses on the set date, noting: “Above all, we encourage people, especially on that 30th, if it’s possible for them to close their shops, close their businesses, take out their valuables from their businesses, just to avoid looting, and stay indoors, have enough air time and data in their phones, stay in touch with their families and loved ones and expect communications from our approved channels, so that we can always hear their cry.
“If anything is happening where they are, they can easily reach out to somebody that will reach out to somebody.
“So far, we also encourage them to be law abiding, not to engage if there are protests on that day. If there are South Africans marching around, they shouldn’t confront them, they should not engage them or block their ways.
“Even those that will be driving or have a need to move around at all, should avoid the hotspot areas and the strategic corners that might put their life in danger.
“As much as possible, avoid travelling that day, whether within the province or outside the province, as we know that this protest might be happening all over South Africa on that same day, even though we are receiving some reports or intelligence information that they are planning to even start earlier than the 30th, maybe around the 28th or 29th, looting or attacking foreigners.
“But we are on alert and applying caution as we manage the situation so far.
“It had nothing to do with me as a human being; it had everything to do with me as a professional. All we wanted was to get to the truth.”
He also said his investigation team was not responsible for sentencing suspects, drawing a distinction between investigators and the military tribunals that later tried accused persons, insisting: “My panel was not a tribunal; it was an investigating team.”
