The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, has appealed to private organisations, religious bodies and public-spirited individuals to support efforts to evacuate stranded Nigerians from South Africa amid renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks.
Ajayi made the appeal at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria when members of the MTN Media Innovation Programme Cohort 5, led by representatives of MTN Nigeria and Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, paid him a courtesy visit.
He disclosed that the Nigerian High Commission, in partnership with Air Peace, had evacuated 1,699 Nigerians from South Africa this year.
However, the mission is preparing for another round of evacuations following renewed calls by the March and March group for foreigners to leave South Africa before September 30.
Ajayi said the Nigerian mission was taking the threats seriously, citing the group’s continued agitation and reported cases of violence against foreigners.
“The March and March group has not relented in terms of calling foreigners to leave the country,” he said.
He expressed concern that there had not been what he described as a commensurate response by the South African authorities to the activities of the group.
The Acting High Commissioner acknowledged the support of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), which has pledged assistance to evacuate about 500 Nigerians from South Africa.
He appealed to other religious organisations and prominent individuals, including the General Overseer of Winners Chapel, David Oyedepo, Pastor Jerry Eze of Streams of Joy International and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, to support the evacuation of more stranded Nigerians.
According to him, the Commission is already working to commence another round of evacuations with support from the RCCG.
Ajayi noted that the Nigerian government had previously sponsored five evacuation flights from South Africa, while some individuals and state governments had also provided assistance.
He said Enugu State had offered administrative and logistical support for the evacuation of its indigenes, while Delta, Edo, Abia, Ondo, Lagos and Imo states had provided allowances for some returning residents.
The High Commission has also recorded at least 10 verified cases of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians this year.
“We’ve seen a spate of attacks this year alone, nothing less than 10 in terms of quantifying it,” Ajayi said.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the response of the South African government to reported attacks against Nigerians, saying more decisive action was needed to address violent crimes and protect foreign nationals.
Ajayi explained that those repatriated included both documented and undocumented migrants, with many legal residents leaving out of fear, while others became undocumented following delays in processing their immigration papers.
