The Federal Government has rescheduled the airlifting of the first batch of Nigerian citizens wanting to leave South Africa following the recent wave of xenophobic attacks against foreigners in the country.
Kimiebi Ebienfa, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed this in a statement.
According to Ebienfa, the proposed airlifting of the first batch of returnees from South Africa originally scheduled for Monday 8th of June, has been rescheduled for Wednesday 10th of June, and this is due to unforeseen logistical considerations.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu had approved five evacuation flights which would be operated by Nigeria’s private airliner, Air Peace.
He said that the first flight expected to transport about 270 passengers would leave Johannesburg on the evening of the new date, after all necessary permits and clearance have been secured for the aircraft.
He also confirmed that the federal government had extended the screening of its citizens, who were willing to be evacuated from South Africa to Wednesday as confirmation from Nigeria’s Mission in Pretoria shows that the screening exercise of Nigerian nationals, who have indicated interest to be evacuated back home with more than 500 persons have been screened and cleared.