Stranded Nigerians Protest in South Africa Over Evacuation Delays

A group of Nigerian nationals currently stranded in South Africa staged a demonstration at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria on Monday to protest ongoing delays in their scheduled repatriation flights.

The protesters, who gathered outside the diplomatic mission, expressed growing frustration over the slow pace of the evacuation process. Many of those waiting to return home cited increasing economic hardship, hunger, and security concerns as primary reasons for their urgent desire to depart. Video footage circulating on social media captured the demonstrators chanting and demanding immediate action to finalize their return to Nigeria.

The protest follows an earlier government-led initiative to bring home Nigerian citizens amid rising anti-immigration sentiments and xenophobic tensions in various parts of South Africa. While official records indicate that 258 Nigerians have already been successfully evacuated, an estimated 742 registered citizens remain stranded across different provinces.

These remaining individuals have reported facing significant challenges, including homelessness and a lack of access to basic necessities, as they wait for the government to finalize logistics for their flight arrangements.

The Federal Government had previously initiated a screening process at the High Commission to prepare citizens for departure. However, the current backlog has spurred calls for the government to expedite the repatriation program to prevent further deterioration of the living conditions for those still awaiting transport.