Frank Onyekwelu, president of the Nigerian community in South Africa, says over 130 of them have voluntarily registered for repatriation.
Onyekwelu spoke during Channels Television’s Morning Brief programme on Thursday, following renewed xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa.
On Sunday, the federal government said it had commenced plans for the voluntary repatriation of Nigerians in South Africa following attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, minister of foreign affairs, said President Bola Tinubu had directed that evacuation flights be provided for those willing to return home.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that arrangements were underway to collate details of affected citizens, noting that 130 Nigerians had so far registered with the country’s mission in South Africa.
She said the number is expected to rise as Nigerian associations in the country continue to support the registration process.
Speaking on Thursday, Onyekwelu said the figure has now risen beyond the earlier reported number, as many Nigerians continue to face economic hardship and health concerns in the former apartheid country.
“As we speak now, the numbers have increased more than 130. We have other Nigerian citizens that have also applied for such voluntary and free repatriation,” he said.
“Some of them have issues with the economy —economic hardship — they are struggling to survive.”
He noted that some Nigerians are also battling documentation challenges, with delays in renewing residence permits.
“Some of them have applied either to renew their existing residence permit or to get another kind of permit that will allow them to trade or do work or get employed in some companies,” Onyekwelu said.
“But due to the documentation process and the delays and the challenges in terms of requirements that you have to provide as a foreign national, it becomes a bit challenging for them to provide such records or such requests.
“So, at this point, many of them have considered their best option is to go back home. Some have worked for two or three years and currently there is no more job or business or resources has finished; and they are now deciding that it’s better for them to go back home, find another source of livelihood and then start up life again, which is considerably easier.”
Onyekwelu added that some returnees believe reintegration in Nigeria may be more sustainable than their current condition in South Africa.
“They believe they will not be dealing with rentals, maybe if they are staying in their family home and they will be able to concentrate —maybe continue with one or two agricultural farming products to sustain livelihood,” the community president said.
He also noted that health challenges and rising medical costs are contributing to the decision of some Nigerians to return.
“Some are because of health issues — they fell sick or have some health challenges — and the cost of treatment as a foreign national here has increased whereby you cannot go to some hospitals at the moment and then receive treatment free as it used to be,” he said.
“In some hospitals, you are now meant to pay or consult a private hospital and some of them now consider that it will be easier and even much cheaper for them to attend health clinic in Nigeria or attend the medical facilities in Nigeria where they might afford the payment.”
