Hundreds of Nigerians stranded in South Africa on Monday protested at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria over delays in arrangements to return them home.
The protesters, who gathered at the commission’s premises, expressed anger over what they described as slow progress despite earlier promises by the Federal Government to facilitate their evacuation.
In videos shared online, the demonstrators were seen demanding urgent intervention while chanting, “We no go gree o, we wan go.”
The protest follows rising concerns over the condition of Nigerians stranded in South Africa amid renewed anti-immigration tensions and fears of possible xenophobic attacks.
Many of the affected citizens said they were facing difficult living conditions, including challenges with accommodation, feeding, and access to basic needs while waiting for evacuation.
The Federal Government had previously launched a repatriation programme for Nigerians willing to return home, with screening and documentation exercises carried out at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.
However, some returnees have complained about poor communication, uncertainty over flight schedules, and prolonged delays in completing the evacuation process.
Reports indicate that about 258 Nigerians have so far been evacuated from South Africa, while over 742 registered individuals are still awaiting transportation arrangements across various provinces.
The delay has increased anxiety among those remaining, with protesters urging authorities to speed up the process before their situation deteriorates further.
Some of the stranded Nigerians warned that continued delays could expose them to greater hardship and security concerns.
As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria had yet to release an official statement addressing the protest.
