Reports from South Africa say that about a thousand Nigerians who would like to return back to Nigeria using the open window of evacuation organized by the Nigerian mission in South Africa but are still trapped there due to the slow process of the evacuation programme. While about 600 registered to be part of the evacuation, documentation challenges have prevented many from leaving as only about 180 made it with the first batch. But more are still trooping into Johannesburg from many cities across the country.
It could be recalled that the first batch arrived Lagos from Johannesburg last Wednesday and were received by the Chairman of Nigeria in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri among other top government functionaries. The evacuation plan by Air Peace was delayed due to documentation process by both the South African government and the Nigerian Missions in South Africa.
The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa was said to have arranged temporary Travel Certificate (TTC) for most of those that had offered to return home, many of whom do not have valid passports. Aside Air Peace’s offer, the government is said to have made arrangements for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians.
In the latest outbreak of xenophobic violence in South Africa, deadly riots in Pretoria and Johannesburg killed at least 12 people and targeted foreign-owned businesses. There are fears that another round of attacks may follow because there is still tension in the country and comments attributed to some South African leaders are not helping matters are critics and civil society organizations blame the government for the negligence at the root of the whole xenophobic attacks. This concern about another wave of attacks is responsible for the voluntary repatriation from South Africa .
However, sources at the Nigerian Mission in Johannesburg say that efforts are being made to mop up the remaining people after they have been properly documented. However, a representative of the Nigerian community union in South Africa has blamed the officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa for the delays saying that the documentation process is so slow that it has become frustrating. Aside this group, there are others who arrived Johannesburg from different parts of South Africa to participate in the evacuation process even though the cities they live in did not experience the xenophobic attacks. A source who spoke with this Correspondent noted that some of those who arrived from farther place such as East London, Port Elizabeth, Durban, and Cape Town
Another source that spoke with this Correspondent say that many of those who volunteered to participate in the process was seen sleeping in the open at the High Commission with no shelter over them for three years. It was not until two days ago that the Mission provided hotel accommodation for them while the processing of their papers is ongoing.
Kelechi Deca
Kelechi Deca has over two decades of media experience, he has traveled to over 77 countries reporting on multilateral development institutions, international business, trade, travels, culture, and diplomacy. He is also a petrol head with in-depth knowledge of automobiles and the auto industry.