The Nigerian government has advised its citizen The Nigerian Government has advised its citizens to “inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage” of a free return trip to Nigeria.
This is because Air Peace, a Nigerian airline, volunteered to send an aircraft to South Africa to take back willing Nigerians home.
This was announced in a declaration on Thursday by Ferdinand Nwonye, the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Many Nigerians in South Africa have endured the recent xenophobic assaults, destroying and plundering many businesses.
Although the attacks targeting African descent foreigners have murdered at least five individuals, the Nigerian government has said that no Nigerians have been murdered.
Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffery Onyeama said on Wednesday that Nigeria would not “cave in” on its two South African requirements, which are compensation for Nigerians whose properties have been damaged and provide appropriate security for Nigerians in South Africa.
The declaration made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday proposed that the government encouraged Nigerians to return home from South Africa.
“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,” Mr Nwonye wrote.