Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has served notice that it will evacuate its citizens in South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks there.
The owner of a local airline – Air Peace Airlines has offered to use his air transport company to airlift his fellow countrymen from South Africa at no cost.
In a statement, Nigerians resident in South Africa have been encouraged to take advantage of the move and come back home for cover.
“The Proprietor of Air Peace Airlines Chief Allen Onyema has volunteered to send an aircraft from Friday 6th September 2019 to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return to Nigeria free of charge. The general public is hereby advised to inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage of this laudable gesture”, the statement noted.
Any Nigerian who wants to leave South Africa has been asked to liaise with the High Commission to complete the standard procedures for the evacuation.
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“Interested Nigerians are therefore advised to liaise with the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for further necessary arrangement.”
Here is the full statement issued to the citizens
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform the general public that following the recent unfortunate xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians in South Africa, the Proprietor of Air Peace Airlines Chief Allen Onyema, has volunteered to send an aircraft from Friday 6th September 2019 to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return to Nigeria free of charge.
The general public is hereby advised to inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage of this laudable gesture.
Interested Nigerians are therefore advised to liaise with the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for further necessary arrangement.”
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South Africa has gained notoriety over the past two decades over incidents of xenophobia-influenced violence.
In the current unrest, Nigerians appear to be the target of the angry mobs.
Other African governments have issued warnings to their citizens over the violence.
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International media outlets have reported that dozens of people were arrested in Johannesburg on Monday while at least five people have been killed in the unrest.
The recent development – many say, is posing a threat to the harmonious co-existence amongst South Africans and other Africans in the Southern African country.
Source: Citifm