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Nigeria Denies Charging for South Africa Evacuation Flights, Cites Full Government Funding
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Nigeria Denies Charging for South Africa Evacuation Flights, Cites Full Government Funding

From Vanguard · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • The Nigerian Federal Government denies reports that Nigerians stranded in South Africa were charged for evacuation flights.
  • The government confirms it fully funded the repatriation of 593 Nigerians, with 700 more expected.
  • This clarification addresses false allegations of officials demanding payment for the evacuation exercise.

Nigeria's Federal Government has firmly denied claims that stranded citizens were required to pay for evacuation flights from South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that all special evacuation flights were fully funded by the Nigerian government, emphasizing that there was no cost to the returnees. This statement aims to dispel rumors and false allegations circulating about the repatriation exercise.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to place on record that all the special evacuation flights are fully paid for by the Federal Government and at no cost to the returnees.

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs SpokespersonThe ministry clarified the funding of the evacuation flights to counter allegations of payment demands.

According to the ministry's spokesperson, 593 Nigerians affected by xenophobic protests in South Africa have been successfully evacuated. An additional 700 Nigerians who voluntarily registered and completed the necessary screening are expected to return in the coming days. The first batch of 258 returnees arrived in Lagos on June 11, where they were received by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

Logistical challenges had previously caused delays, leading to some stranded Nigerians being temporarily housed at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria. The ministry noted that a Nigerian philanthropist voluntarily covered the tickets for 66 individuals who returned on June 24 via South African Airways. Another flight on June 30 brought back 269 returnees, bringing the total evacuated to 593.

This clarification is necessitated by insinuations and false allegations that some staff of the Nigerian Mission were requesting money before enlisting our nationals for the evacuation flights. That is totally false, fake news, and should be discarded.

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs SpokespersonThe ministry directly addressed and refuted claims of corruption within the evacuation process.

Reiterating the government's commitment to Nigerians' welfare abroad, the ministry stressed that any reports of mission staff demanding money for evacuation were "totally false, fake news, and should be discarded." The government highlighted its positive coordination with relevant ministries and departments to ensure the success of the evacuation process, underscoring the priority placed on protecting its citizens.

The Ministry appreciates the very positive coordination and collaboration with relevant MDAs in making this process a success, and we will continue to work together for the good of our country. The evacuation process clearly underscores the priority accorded to the protection of N

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs SpokespersonThe spokesperson affirmed the government's commitment to its citizens' welfare and thanked collaborating agencies.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Vanguard in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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