The fourth evacuation flight arranged to bring Nigerians back from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks has been delayed due to a technical fault discovered on the aircraft.
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying cracks were detected on the cockpit windscreen of the aircraft during routine safety checks in Johannesburg.
Ebienfa apologised for the delay, assuring that another aircraft would be deployed to continue the evacuation exercise.
“We have a situation in Johannesburg, South Africa regarding the operation of the fourth evacuation flight.
“The flight couldn’t take off up till now because they saw cracks on the windscreen in the cockpit. Air Peace will deploy another aircraft to South Africa later today to bring the returnees,” he said.
The delayed flight was scheduled to evacuate 270 Nigerians from Johannesburg.
The Federal Government has so far evacuated no fewer than 859 Nigerians from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals, especially Africans.
The evacuation exercise was initiated after reports of attacks, intimidation and displacement of Nigerians and other African nationals amid renewed anti-foreigner protests in parts of South Africa.
The government had said the exercise was aimed at providing support for affected Nigerians who wished to return home voluntarily.
