The Federal Government has advised Nigerians residing in South Africa who feel threatened by the wave of xenophobic attacks to take advantage of its ongoing evacuation programme, warning that there is no indication the security situation is improving.
The appeal follows the reported deaths of two Nigerians, identified as Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, during the recent attacks on foreign nationals.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, expressed the government's concern over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa, describing the attacks on migrants as disturbing.
She said the Federal Government has called on South African authorities to carry out a thorough investigation into the killings and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice.
According to the minister, Nigerians who believe their lives are at risk should immediately take advantage of the Federal Government-sponsored evacuation flights back to the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu approved an extension of the evacuation exercise beyond its initial June 30 deadline to enable more Nigerians who wish to return home to do so.
She revealed that the fourth evacuation flight arrived in Nigeria on July 3, while another flight is scheduled to depart for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to evacuate additional citizens.
She added that the final evacuation flight under the current arrangement is expected to operate on July 10.
The minister urged Nigerians who are yet to make a decision on whether to remain in South Africa to carefully assess the security situation.
She stressed that while lost property and investments could be recovered, lives lost could never be replaced.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to safeguarding the lives and welfare of Nigerians living abroad, assuring that every necessary step would be taken to protect them.
The latest advisory comes as the Federal Government finalises plans to evacuate about 270 Nigerians from South Africa under its voluntary repatriation programme.
The returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Wednesday aboard an Air Peace aircraft.
The evacuation exercise is being coordinated through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria in collaboration with relevant government agencies as part of efforts to assist Nigerians facing security and other challenges in South Africa.
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