By Idriss LAWAL
Nigeria plans to evacuate the remnants on its citizens still in South Africa on Friday.
According to Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the July 10 flight will be the final journey out of South Africa.
She urged Nigerians who feel their lives are threatened to take advantage of the Federal Government-sponsored flight to return home.
This followed the recent violent protests against foreigners, especially non-South Africans, by the March and March group whose members have been asking that all foreign nationals leave their country.
Currently, no fewer than 859 Nigerians have been evacuated, with another flight scheduled to evacuate 271 others today.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had given the nod to extend evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight arriving in Nigeria on July 3.
Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned those undecided that the situation seemed not to abate.
The minister urged those willing to return to go for documentation.
She said: “We are urging our citizens who consider their lives at risk to take advantage of the Federal Government-sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home.
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“There are no signs that the situation is improving.”
The minister added: “Following the earlier evacuations of our citizens in three separate operations, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, extended the evacuations beyond the June 30 deadline, with the fourth evacuation flight having arrived in Nigeria on July 3, 2026.
“Our citizens are strongly advised to take advantage of this extension and utilise the full capacity of the aircraft.
“Another evacuation flight will leave for Johannesburg on Tuesday, July 7, to bring home our citizens.
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“The last evacuation flight is expected to arrive in South Africa on July 10. Our nationals are again advised to weigh the risks regarding whether to remain or return.
“For many still sitting on the fence, sending out distress calls after these evacuation exercises might have concluded, and when there was an opportunity to leave, which they did not utilise, will not help matters.
“They should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced, but not the lives lost.
