The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that the Air Peace Airlines has volunteered to send an aircraft to South Africa from Friday, September 6, for free evacuation of willing Nigerians who wish to return home.
According to a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Ferdinand Nwonye, the development followed the recent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians in South Africa.
The statement read: “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.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government on Wednesday said it had drawn ‘a red line’ with South Africa over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama, who spoke to journalists after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, also said Nigeria would not ‘cave in’ on the matter.
He said, “We want to assure all Nigerians that this government is determined, that red line has been drawn and that we will not cave in on this occasion.
“The South African government has to assume its responsibilities and protect Nigerians in South Africa and we have to hold them to account and they have to do that as well as pay full compensation.’’
Onyeama also confirmed that Nigeria would recall her ambassador to South Africa over the matter for a briefing.