By Ify Okoli
The Federal Government Has Delayed The Latest Evacuation
Flight Planned To Bring Stranded Nigerians Home From South Africa After The Aircraft
Assigned To The Operation Developed A Technical Fault Shortly Before Take-Off.
The Setback Was Confirmed On Wednesday By The Spokesperson
For The Ministry Of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, Who Explained That
Engineers Carrying Out Routine Safety Checks Discovered Cracks On The Cockpit
Windscreen Of The Aircraft In Johannesburg.
According To Him, The Plane Was Immediately Grounded To
Avoid Any Risk To Passengers And Crew, While Arrangements Were Made For Air
Peace To Send Another Aircraft To Complete The Mission.
Ebienfa Said The Replacement Aircraft Would Leave For South
Africa Later The Same Day To Bring The Stranded Nigerians Back To The Country. He
Also Apologised To The Affected Passengers For The Unexpected Delay And Assured
Them That Their Safety Remained The Government's Top Priority.
The Development Comes Just A Day After The Federal Government
Announced What It Described As The Final Phase Of Its Evacuation Exercise For Nigerians
Caught Up In Renewed Xenophobic Attacks And Worsening Security Concerns In South
Africa.
Earlier, The Minister Of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu,
Had Appealed To Nigerians Who Felt Threatened To Register For The Remaining
Evacuation Flights. She Said The Security Situation Had Not Improved Enough To
Guarantee The Safety Of Many Nigerians Still Living In Parts Of South Africa.
The Minister Also Revealed That The Evacuation Programme Had
Been Extended Beyond The Original June 30 Deadline Approved By President
Bola Tinubu Because Fresh Attacks Against Foreign Nationals Continued After The
Initial Closing Date.
Before The Latest Disruption, Three Successful Evacuation
Flights Had Already Returned Nigerians Home, While The Fourth Flight Was
Expected To Leave Johannesburg On Tuesday Night With About 270 Passengers.
The Government's Decision To Organise The Evacuation
Followed The Recent Deaths Of Two Nigerians In South Africa. Emeka Charles
Iroegbu Was Allegedly Killed By Officers Of The Tshwane Metro Police In Pretoria,
While Musa Yunana Joe, Widely Known As Big Joe, Was Shot Dead Outside His
Shop In Witbank, Mpumalanga.
The Federal Government Strongly Condemned Both Killings And
Called On South African Authorities To Carry Out A Full Investigation And
Ensure Everyone Responsible Is Brought To Justice.
Despite The Latest Delay, Officials Insisted The Evacuation
Exercise Remains On Course, Saying A Replacement Aircraft Will Arrive In Johannesburg
As Quickly As Possible To Bring The Stranded Nigerians Safely Back Home.
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