The federal government has postponed the fourth evacuation flight for trapped Nigerians in South Africa due to a defect identified on the aircraft for the mission. Geographic Reference
The aeroplane could not depart from Johannesburg, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said today after engineers noticed cracks in the cockpit windscreen.
The Guardian writes. “The affected aircraft was grounded as a safety precaution while Air Peace has been ordered to send another aircraft to complete the evacuation,” he said.
“We have a problem in Johannesburg, South Africa regarding the fourth evacuation flight. The flight was unable to leave the ground due to fractures discovered in the cockpit windscreen. “Air Peace will be sending another aircraft to South Africa later today to airlift the returnees,” Ebienfa said, apologising for the delay.
The postponement comes just a day after the federal government launched what it termed the final phase of its evacuation exercise for Nigerians stuck in South Africa, following continued xenophobic violence and increasing security concerns. GeographicReference
Earlier, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu had advised Nigerians who felt their lives were in danger to take advantage of the remaining evacuation planes, saying that the security situation in South Africa was not showing any sign of improving.
She said that the evacuation programme has been prolonged beyond the June 30 date initially set by President Bola Tinubu, due to the unrelenting attacks.
Three of the evacuation operations had been completed and the fourth flight, due to leave Johannesburg last night with roughly 270 Nigerians, was anticipated to bring home another set of returnees, the minister said.
The evacuation effort came after the recent assassination of two Nigerians in South Africa; Emeka Charles Iroegbu, allegedly assassinated by officials of the Tshwane Metro Police in Pretoria, and Musa Yunana Joe, better known as Big Joe, who was shot dead outside his business in Witbank, Mpumalanga. Geographical Reference
The federal government has condemned the killings and urged on the South African authorities to conduct a full investigation and bring those responsible to justice.
Officials said another plane would be despatched to Johannesburg to guarantee the stranded Nigerians are evacuated as soon as feasible despite the delay.
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