[Xenophobia] BREAKING: Nigerians’ evacuation delayed as South Africa withholds landing permit from Air Peace



The evacuation of the second batch of Nigerians from South Africa , owing to ongoing xenophobic attacks, suffered an interruption on Tuesday following the delay in granting landing permit to Air Peace .
The airline had volunteered to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home following the recent violence against foreigners in the southern African country.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the airline , in collaboration with the Federal Government had, on September 11 , evacuated the first batch of 187 Nigerians from South Africa .

There was a plan for the airline to evacuate another batch of 320 Nigerians who had indicated interest to return home , with the flight expected to arrive in Lagos at 7 . 00 p. m on Tuesday .
However , Chairman of Air Peace, Mr . Allen Onyema , told newsmen in Lagos that the airline’ s B 777 aircraft deployed for the operation was still on a standby at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport , Lagos .

According to him , the aircraft was supposed to have departed Lagos at 1 . 00 am , but it was denied landing permit by the South African authorities .
“ We did not take off at 1 : 00 am as scheduled because South African authorities are yet to give us landing permit .
“ We are hopeful that they will give us the permit .

“ Our crew waited till 3 :00 am , but when the permit did not come , they went back to the hotel.
“ Once we get the permit , we will set off to South Africa .
“ We don ’ t want to speculate, but we are hopeful they will give the permit , ” Onyema said .

NAN reports that the South African authorities had, on September 11 , also prevented some Nigerians from leaving the country, by insisting on a fresh profiling exercise in spite of the one earlier conducted by the Nigerian High Commission .
The situation led to several hours of delay before 187 of the more than 300 Nigerians were successfully evacuated.




https://punchng.com/xenophobia-breaking-nigerians-evacuation-delayed-as-authorities-withhold-landing-permit-from-air-peace/?fbclid=IwAR3QLZZiYMGCfcIZ8tnpyopOlbQDJO5VSjfe6uinTDhQ2KLdCoi8ghhUl-o

I pray its not what am thinking

The South africans are just provoking us from all angle