The Nigerian Union in South Africa (NUSA) has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the stalled repatriation of Nigerians, following the cancellation of a scheduled evacuation flight for the second batch of returnees.
President of NUSA, Mr. Smart Nwobi, made the appeal during a telephone interview from Pretoria on Tuesday, revealing that about 300 Nigerians slated for evacuation on Monday were left stranded due to what officials described as “technical issues.”
According to Nwobi, the affected individuals had assembled at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in preparation for their departure when they were informed of the abrupt cancellation.
“The Nigerians had gathered at the mission and were ready to travel, but officials later told them the flight had been cancelled due to technical issues. This left many stranded and confused,” he said.
Nwobi further disclosed that the Union sought clarification from the Nigerian mission but was unable to obtain clear answers regarding the nature of the problem. He added that there were unconfirmed reports suggesting that Air Peace, the airline designated for the evacuation, had not received payment for the operation.
“We are using this opportunity to call on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and resolve the challenges delaying the repatriation process,” he said.
He acknowledged the Federal Government’s initial commitment to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home, noting that five chartered flights had been approved for the exercise. However, he stressed that the current delay could undermine those efforts.
The NUSA president also raised concerns about the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, citing threats from groups that had issued a June 30 deadline for foreigners to leave.
“The international community is watching, and the deadline set by some groups is fast approaching. Our people are under pressure and need urgent assistance,” Nwobi warned.
He explained that while 275 Nigerians were successfully evacuated in the first batch, over 1,000 individuals are expected to be repatriated in total through the planned five flights.
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In the interim, NUSA and other Nigerian community groups have stepped in to support those affected. The Union facilitated temporary accommodation at the Nigerian House in Pretoria, while various state associations provided shelter for others.
Despite these efforts, Nwobi emphasized that a swift resolution is necessary to prevent further hardship for the stranded citizens and ensure the success of the overall evacuation plan.
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