397 NIGERIANS UNDERGO SCREENING FOR EVACUATION FROM SOUTH AFRICA AMID XENOPHOBIC TENSIONS

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

A total of 397 Nigerians are currently undergoing screening in South Africa as part of plans to facilitate their return home following renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-foreigner campaigns in parts of the country.

The screening exercise, which began on Thursday and is scheduled to end on Sunday, is being jointly supervised by the South African Police Service, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of International Relations and Cooperation.

This was disclosed on Friday by the President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Reverend Frank Onyekwelu.

According to Onyekwelu, more than 600 Nigerians initially applied for repatriation, but only 397 were cleared after the screening process for inclusion in the first evacuation flight.

He explained that the exact date for the evacuation flight has not yet been confirmed, as the Nigerian Consulate and High Commission are working with the Federal Government to finalise arrangements.

“The screening for the repatriation started on Thursday and will end on Sunday, after which about 397 people will be on the first flight back home,” he said.

Onyekwelu noted that many of those opting to return were affected by job losses, expired permits, and irregular immigration status.

He added that the screening process was also aimed at ensuring that individuals returning do not have pending criminal cases.

Reports indicate that anti-foreigner protests have intensified in several South African cities, including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu-Natal, with foreign nationals, including Nigerians, among those affected.

Local authorities in eThekwini Municipality have reportedly moved some foreign nationals in Durban to screening centres for documentation verification.

Meanwhile, concerns remain among Nigerian migrants in KwaZulu-Natal following threats ordering foreigners to leave by June 30.