Security situation in S’Africa remains unsafe, Nigerians must return home, says FG

The Federal Government has urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to take advantage of its ongoing evacuation programme, warning that the security situation in the country remains unsafe amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the warning in a statement issued on Monday, saying there were no indications that the violence against migrants was subsiding.

She said the government was particularly alarmed by the deaths of two Nigerians, identified as Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, who lost their lives during the recent wave of xenophobic attacks.

According to the minister, the Federal Government remains deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of Nigerian citizens in South Africa and is taking proactive steps to ensure that those who wish to return home are safely evacuated.

“The Federal Government remains deeply concerned about the safety of its citizens in South Africa following the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks against migrants. Our concern has become even more profound following the tragic deaths of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during these unfortunate incidents,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu called on the South African authorities to launch an immediate investigation into the killings and ensure that those responsible are identified and prosecuted.

“We demand that the South African authorities urgently investigate these incidents and bring those responsible to justice. Every life matters, and those behind these attacks must be held accountable in accordance with the law,” she stated.

She disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved an extension of the Federal Government’s evacuation exercise beyond the earlier June 30 deadline to enable more Nigerians willing to return home to do so.

The minister noted that the extension followed the successful evacuation of Nigerians in three separate operations, adding that a fourth chartered flight landed in Nigeria on July 3 with another batch of returnees.

She announced that another Federal Government-chartered aircraft would depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to evacuate more Nigerians, while the final evacuation flight under the current arrangement would arrive in South Africa on July 10.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has graciously approved the extension of the evacuation exercise beyond the June 30 deadline. Following the successful completion of three evacuation operations, the fourth evacuation flight arrived in Nigeria on July 3, and another aircraft will depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to bring home more of our citizens,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu appealed to Nigerians who believe their lives were under threat to immediately register for evacuation, urging them not to ignore the opportunity provided by the Federal Government.

She stressed that the available aircraft still had capacity and appealed to citizens to utilise the remaining evacuation flights.

“Our citizens who consider their lives to be at risk are strongly advised to take full advantage of the Federal Government-sponsored evacuation flights. We urge them to utilise the available seats on the aircraft while this opportunity lasts,” she said.

The minister also appealed to Nigerians who were still undecided about returning home to carefully consider the prevailing security situation, warning that no material possession was worth risking their lives.

“For those who are still sitting on the fence, this is the time to carefully weigh the risks of remaining against the option of returning home. Properties and investments lost can always be replaced, but lives lost cannot. Nothing is more valuable than human life,” she added.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians wherever they reside, assuring citizens that every available diplomatic and humanitarian measure would continue to be deployed to safeguard their interests.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria remains unwavering in its commitment to the safety and welfare of Nigerians abroad. We will continue to put every necessary measure in place to protect our citizens wherever they may be,” she said.