Frustrated Nigerians protest delayed evacuation from South Africa

Hundreds of stranded Nigerians on Monday staged a protest at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, expressing frustration over delays in their evacuation back home despite earlier assurances from the Federal Government.

The protesters gathered at the commission’s premises, demanding immediate action and faster arrangements for their return to Nigeria.

In videos circulating online, the demonstrators were seen chanting:

“We no go gree o, we wan go.”

The protest comes amid growing concerns over the welfare of Nigerians stranded in South Africa following renewed anti-immigration tensions and fears of xenophobic attacks in some parts of the country.

Many of those awaiting evacuation reportedly face severe hardship, with some lacking stable accommodation and struggling to access food and other basic necessities as delays persist.

The Federal Government had earlier initiated a repatriation programme for Nigerians willing to return home, with screening exercises conducted at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria to verify and document prospective returnees.

While the exercise initially raised hopes of a swift evacuation, many affected Nigerians have complained about uncertainty surrounding flight schedules and inadequate communication from the relevant authorities.

Available figures indicate that about 258 Nigerians have so far been evacuated from South Africa. However, more than 742 registered Nigerians are still reportedly awaiting transportation arrangements across different provinces.

The prolonged delay has heightened anxiety among those affected, prompting calls for the government to accelerate the evacuation process before conditions worsen further.

Some protesters warned that continued delays could expose stranded citizens to deeper economic hardship and security risks.

As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had not issued an official response to the protest.

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