Final preparations to return Nigerians who registered for evacuation from South Africa have been made possible by the completion of screening by the Federal Government.
The screening procedure, which involves various agencies from South Africa and Nigeria, started on Thursday, June 4, as revealed in a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Officials from the South African Police Service, the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, and the immigration authorities all worked together to carry out the exercise, according to the ministry.
In light of growing security concerns, the government stated that the exercise’s goal was to confirm the eligibility and identity of Nigerians who expressed interest in returning to the nation.
Now that the screening is over, the authorities will likely decide how many Nigerians may be safely evacuated.
The government would then make plans to send planes to bring the evacuees back to Nigeria, according to the statement.
The planned evacuation is happening in the midst of a surge in xenophobic violence and rising fears for the safety of African migrants in South Africa, including Nigerians.
Reassuring the safe return of individuals impacted by the most recent wave of anti-foreigner violence, the Federal Government has reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding the welfare of Nigerians overseas.