Breaking: First Batch Of Nigerians Repatriated From South Africa To Arrive Home Next Week

The disclosure was made on Saturday in Abuja by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, during an interview.

According to Dabiri-Erewa, the screening exercise is being jointly conducted by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.

The process entered its third day on Saturday, attracting a significant number of Nigerians seeking to facilitate their voluntary return to Nigeria.

She described the turnout at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria as remarkable, noting that participants arrived in large numbers from the early hours of the day to complete the necessary procedures.

Dabiri-Erewa stated that despite concerns arising from recent anti-immigrant demonstrations in some parts of South Africa, the exercise has remained orderly and peaceful. She credited the smooth coordination of the process to the supervision of Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Olatunde Ajayi.

The NiDCOM boss revealed that more than 1,000 Nigerians have so far enrolled for the voluntary evacuation programme, with registration still ongoing.

She further disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has approved arrangements for the evacuation, with Air Peace designated to operate the flights.

According to her, five evacuation flights have been scheduled, while the first group of returnees is expected to arrive in Nigeria sometime next week.