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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Disasters & Emergencies

Nigeria plans next week evacuation for 500 citizens stranded in South Africa

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources New plan
  • Nigeria's acting High Commissioner to South Africa stated that approximately 500 Nigerians are awaiting evacuation.
  • These Nigerians are scheduled for repatriation next week, following the recent return of 861 citizens over three weeks.
  • The Nigerian government will provide psychosocial counseling, mental health support, and livelihood assistance to the returnees to aid their reintegration.

Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, announced that around 500 Nigerians are awaiting repatriation from South Africa. This follows the recent return of 861 stranded citizens over the past three weeks, with the remaining individuals slated for evacuation next week.

We have about 500 remaining, which we shall repatriate next week.

— Temitope AjayiNigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, commenting on the number of Nigerians awaiting evacuation.

The Nigerian government is implementing a comprehensive reintegration program for the returnees. This initiative includes psychosocial and mental health counseling to help them cope with the trauma of displacement. Livelihood support, skills acquisition, and transportation to their home states are also part of the plan.

The Federal Government has made adequate arrangements for them through different agencies and ministries. They all have individual roles and responsibilities to play.

— Catherine UdidaDirector of Migration Affairs at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, on government support for returnees.

Catherine Udida, Director of Migration Affairs at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), confirmed that various ministries and agencies are mobilized to assist the returnees. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) will provide transportation, while the NCFRMI will coordinate rehabilitation and offer durable solutions, including skills training and counseling.

For instance, NEMA is providing the cars and buses to take the returnees to their respective state or close to their state, and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons is the mandate agency on return. So we are providing durable solutions.

— Catherine UdidaExplaining the roles of different agencies in assisting the returnees.

Udida stated that the commission has already profiled over 1,000 Nigerians for this intervention, ensuring they receive adequate support. The ongoing returns highlight growing concerns over xenophobia and immigration-related challenges faced by Nigerians in South Africa.

Which means we will provide livelihood support, skills training and, of course, psychosocial and mental health counselling because of the trauma they have been through.

— Catherine UdidaDetailing the support services offered to repatriated Nigerians.
DistantNews Editorial

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

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