The Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg has disclosed that arrangements to assist interested Nigerians, who are either destitute or currently stranded in South Africa, have reached the final stage.

The consulate’s social secretary, Cynthia Akiga, disclosed the update on Wednesday while responding to an email inquiry, earlier sent by the Peoples Gazette, about the envoy’s evacuation plan.

Ms Akiga stated, “We have been on it since April 2026 and we are about to conclude with arrangements.”

She said the consulate remained committed to assist stranded and undocumented Nigerian nationals, while collaborating with the South African government to curb the rising trend of illegal migration involving Nigerians.

“Our reasons for this exercise are to assist our nationals who are stranded and destitute. And, to join hands with the South African government to address the issue of illegal migration, by assisting to reduce the numbers of our nationals that fall into that category,” Ms Akiga said.

When asked about ongoing measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerian nationals amid the prevalent wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, she said it had issued public notices and undertaken high-level diplomatic engagements with the South African government through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.

“Public notices, high-level diplomatic government engagement through our High Commission in Pretoria, legal efforts by the association of Nigerian lawyers in South Africa as well as efforts by concerned groups within the civil society,” Ms Akiga stated.

A public notice shared with the Gazette, dated Sunday, April 5, and signed by the consul general, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, requested that all Nigerian organisation heads should begin to compile details of Nigerians “who wish to return home, but simply cannot afford the airfare.”

“The Consulate is working hard to gather sufficient numbers of our nationals, in order to arrange for a Special Flight in this regard, together with our High Commission in Pretoria,” the notice said.

“This is in a bid to alleviate the hardships being faced by our nationals, as well as in demonstration of our continued resolve to work closely with our host government to tackle the issue of illegal stay in South Africa,” it said.

The consulate listed details including passport photograph, full name, passport bio-data page, state of origin, email address, telephone number, current location, explanation, place of birth and local government area as essential requirements to be eligible for the assistance.

The consulate also enjoined associations within South Africa to collect the names of their affected members and forward them in bulk.

“Kindly be informed that the registration is totally free and all requested documents should be sent to: cgjhb@nigerianconsulatesa.org or by WhatsApp to: +27 62 764 2412,” the notice stated.

In a recent notice, dated Sunday, May 3, the consulate warned Nigerian residents in South Africa against physically engaging with demonstrators amid xenophobic tensions in the country.

At the time, the consulate disclosed that it received information that anti-foreigner groups were planning a nationwide shutdown across all nine provinces to pressure the South African government into taking action against foreigners.

The consul general said the protest organisers accused both documented and undocumented foreigners of benefiting more from South Africa than citizens.