Number of Nigerians hurriedly eager to return home from South Africa as a result of recent xenophobic attacks unleashed on them and some nationalities of other African Countries , has increased from 400 to 640 as at Monday.
Making the disclosure to journalists at the Senate wing of the National Assembly, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri -Erewa, said more and more of home bound interested Nigerians resident in South Africa , are still being attended to by way of documentation.
Dabiri -Erewa, who stated this after her appearance before the Senate Committee on Diaspora , explained that emergency travel documents are being issued to some of the home bound Nigerians whose papers have expired.
According to her, two air crafts have landed on the South African soil to bring the first batch of Nigerians.
She said eight South African policemen were already being prosecuted over various xenophobic cases against Nigerians.
She said, “As I speak with you now, we have 640 Nigerians voluntarily registered to come home and they will be home in a couple of days.
“We believe that more will still be coming to register. Two planes will convey them. the envoy will be briefing the president.
“When we receive the first two batches, we will know how many more will come.
“With the envoy’s briefing to the president, we will be having everything in place.
“In the meantime, we continue to demand compensation for Nigerians that have been attacked in South Africa.
“Also, we know that eight policemen have been charged to court for their involvement in killings of Nigerians in south Africa and four more have been recently arrested.
“We are demanding that these investigations must end so that we can know exactly what is happening.
“As it is now, Nigerians in South Africa are very excited about the move taken by the government.
“We continue to reiterate Mr. President’s directive that no Nigerian should be treated anyhow anywhere in the World.
“We assure Nigerians wherever they are that the Nigerian government will continue to come to their aid.
“As for Nigerians in South Africa, we advise them to remain calm. There are some shops in volatile areas which should not be opened while we continue to engage to get justice for all Nigerians affected.”
She said despite the move being made to ferry interested Nigerians back home , the federal government will continue to demand compensation from South Africa for what has happened to Nigerians.
When asked what government has in plan for Nigerians heading home voluntarily from South Africa , Hon Dabiri- Erewa said, “They went on their own and have volunteered to come back. They belong to states as well but on the part of the federal government, we have the Special Intervention Programme that we encourage them to enroll in.
“This administration is doing everything possible to make Nigeria a better country to live in. we will also be issuing more advisory as to what to expect, where to go to, and what to do.”
