As the June 30, 2026 deadline set by anti-immigration groups approaches, Nigerians are stranded in South Africa.
A protest outside the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria was held on Monday June 23. Nigerians were chanting “we wan go o, we no go gree” emphasizing that they want to leave and they will not accept this.
Women and children with no shelter and food in some cases are among them. One man on camera said he was willing to go, he just wanted to be paid for what he owned and his business of over 20 employees were all at risk.
Whereas the government that promised to bring them home has not released the money to the airline that would do it. The June 30 deadline has created urgency and fear among the affected Nigerians.
How Over 700 People Are Waiting for Money That Was Approved Weeks Ago
More than 700 Nigerians are stranded in South Africa three days before the June 30 deadline issued by anti-immigration groups.
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s approval of funds for their emergency evacuation operations two weeks ago, bureaucratic delays have prevented the release of the money thereby leaving hundreds of Nigerians to be stranded amid escalating xenophobic tensions.
Only about 324 Nigerians have been successfully evacuated so far, in batches of 268 and 66. Findings showed that although the President approved funding for four additional rescue flights after the first evacuation brought 258 Nigerians home, but the money had yet to reach the designated carrier Air Peace.
According to senior officials, Air Peace has declined to deploy its aircraft to transport the remaining evacuees until payment is confirmed. So far, 324 Nigerians have returned home through government and private-sector efforts. The first batch of 258 evacuees arrived in Lagos on June 11 through an Air Peace flight while another 66 returned on June 24 via ValueJet while more than 700 others await evacuation.
The June 30 Deadline That Is Terrifying Over 700 Nigerians Right Now
The June 30 deadline announced by anti-immigration groups rather than the South African government has heightened anxiety among foreign nationals many of whom fear further violence if evacuation efforts are not completed in time.
Xenophobic hostility has intensified significantly across South Africa since late April driven by anti-immigration movements like Operation Dudula alongside political supports. These groups have publicly given foreign nationals until June 30 to leave their country.
What Nigerians in South Africa Have Actually Been Through
The President of the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, Rev Frank Onyekwelu told PUNCH on Saturday that over 20 Nigerians had died since the renewed wave of anti-foreigner attacks while many others had been assaulted, displaced or forced to abandon their businesses.
Some Nigerians died due to extrajudicial actions. Others died from the stress that followed the vandalisation or looting of their businesses in places like KwaZulu-Natal. Some Nigerians were forced to lie on the streets and were flogged publicly. You could see the wounds on their bodies.
Final Thoughts as Nigerians are stranded in South Africa
Nigerians in South Africa staged a peaceful protest in Pretoria over delays in repatriation flights and slow processing amid ongoing xenophobic attacks.
An evacuation flight scheduled for June 15 failed due to administrative bottlenecks, forcing stranded citizens who had already gathered at the Johannesburg airport to return to the Nigerian High Commission for shelter and feeding.
Do you think the Nigerian government is doing enough to protect its citizens in South Africa? Please tell us what you think should happen right now.
EasySmallTalk covers politics, entertainment, health, lifestyle, and world news every day. Explore more stories on EasySmallTalk
