Nigerians in South Africa who want to escape any
possibility of further violent attacks have been offered a free flight out of
the country.
A statement issued by the Nigerian foreign affairs ministry
on Wednesday said the owner of private Nigeria airline Air Peace Airlines,
Chief Allen Onyema, had volunteered to send an aircraft to evacuate his
countrymen from Friday.
The ministry said the offer followed the recent
“unfortunate xenophobic attacks” on foreign nationals, including Nigerians, in
South Africa.
“The general public is hereby advised to inform their
relatives in South Africa who might be interested to take advantage of this
laudable gesture. Interested Nigerians are therefore advised to contact the
High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria or the Consulate General of Nigeria in
Johannesburg,” ministry spokesperson Ferdinand Nwonye said in a statement.
The attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa have
elicited an angry reaction from people in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President
Yemi Osinbajo and foreign minister Geoffrey Onyeama met to discuss their
government’s next steps in response to the violence.
The violence has thus far claimed the lives of five people,
none Nigerians.
Buhari announced on Wednesday he had sent a special envoy
to President Cyril Ramaphosa to share the country’s deep concern about the
security of Nigerians and their property in South Africa, and to ensure that
the South African government was doing everything within its power to restore
calm.
Buhari also announced his intention to visit South Africa
next month to meet Ramaphosa. Sowetan
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