Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said Nigerians who wish to return home voluntarily from South Africa will be responsible for the cost of their return trip.
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The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing after a closed-door meeting between the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dunoma Ahmed, and the South African Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele.
Ebienfa said the repatriation process is voluntary and self-funded, adding that the Federal Government will only facilitate and coordinate the return of interested citizens.
According to him, the government will not provide an aircraft from Nigeria to convey those who have indicated interest in returning home.
“Those willing to leave are expected to approach the High Commission and, given that their decision is voluntary, have the resources to fund their return to Nigeria,” he said.
He added that about 130 Nigerians in South Africa had so far registered interest in voluntary repatriation, but their actual return would depend on their ability to purchase flight tickets.
“Yes, 130 as of this morning have registered, but actualisation would require them to have their flight tickets to move back to Nigeria,” Ebienfa stated.
The clarification followed the Federal Government’s earlier indication that it was ready to assist Nigerians who feel threatened by xenophobic violence and rising anti-foreigner tensions in South Africa.
Ebienfa explained that two categories of Nigerians had expressed interest in returning home.
He said the first group comprises Nigerians who feel unsafe due to threats to their lives, even though they have valid documents.
The second group, according to him, consists of Nigerians with travel document or residence permit violations who prefer to return home rather than face arrest by South African law enforcement agencies.
“There are two groups of Nigerians who want to come back. One group feels the country is not safe for them and wants to come. They have all their papers intact.
“Then there is also the second group that has travel document violations or resident permit violations. And instead of running away from law enforcement, they are appealing that the government facilitate their movement back to Nigeria,” he said.
The ministry, however, noted that the process is still being worked out and that the Federal Government could provide aircraft or other assistance if tensions worsen and the situation becomes more volatile.
The briefing also followed the death of two Nigerians in South Africa in separate incidents involving South African security personnel.
One of them, identified as Ekpenyong Andrew, was reportedly arrested before his corpse was later discovered in the Booysens area of Pretoria.
The second victim, Amaramiro Emmanuel, reportedly died from injuries sustained during an alleged attack by security personnel.
Ebienfa said the incidents prompted the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, to summon the South African Acting High Commissioner to register Nigeria’s displeasure over the maltreatment of its citizens.
During the meeting, Nigeria condemned the anti-African immigrant aggression in South Africa and demanded that the South African government take proactive steps to address the crisis and protect Nigerians living in the country.
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