Repatriation: Assist Nigerian returnees, NUSA begs FG

From Adesuwa Tsan, Abuja

The Nigerian community in South Africa has appealed to the Federal Government to assist a second batch of Nigerians to leave that country.

Mr Smart Nwobi, the President of Nigerian Union in South Africa, made the plea in a phone interview from Pretoria yesterday.

Nwobi said the second batch of Nigerians totalling 300 could not leave South Africa on Monday due to technical issues.

“The Nigerians had gathered at the Nigerian mission in Pretoria and were due to travel home on Monday. Officials of the mission told them that the flight had been cancelled due to technical issues.

“As a Union, we approached the mission to demand clarifications on what could be the technical issue because the people were stranded,” he said.

He said the Union received reports that suggest that Air Peace Airline, which would airlift the Nigerians has not been paid.

“We are using this opportunity to call on President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and resolve the challenges holding the repatriation.

According to him, President Tinubu had good intentions for Nigerians willing to leave South Africa with the approval of five chartered flights.

The Union leader said that the international community was observing the situation. hence the need for President Tinubu’s intervention.

He said that the June 30 deadline set by the March and March groups in South Africa was around the corner.

“The groups have been threatening our people.

Most Nigerians who have been cleared to be repatriated are now stranded because of the flight cancellation.

“The issue is that the second batch of Nigerians are supposed to leave yesterday ( Monday), but those that are responsible for the journey have not given clarity when they will travel, and this the second of the five batches planned for evacuation,” he said.

He said the Nigerian Union and other Nigerian groups had assisted in the welfare of the stranded Nigerians.

He said the Union persuaded the mission to open the Nigerian House and accommodate some stranded Nigerians while some state groups took in some of the passengers.

He said 275 Nigerians have been evacuated in the first batch while more than 1,000 Nigerians are expected to be airlifted home in five chartered flights.