Nigerians in South Africa protest evacuation flight delays at High Commission in Pretoria
via Punch Nigeria1 min read
Nigerian nationals awaiting repatriation from South Africa have protested at the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, expressing frustration over delays in evacuation flights and processing their return. News Central TV shared a video on Monday showing protesters chanting their desire to leave South Africa. These protests occur amid ongoing repatriation efforts for Nigerians seeking to depart South Africa due to renewed anti-immigration tensions and xenophobic concerns. Hundreds of Nigerians had previously undergone screening at the High Commission as part of the Federal Government's evacuation program. While 258 Nigerians have been evacuated, over 742 registered citizens are reportedly stranded across various provinces, facing hunger and homelessness due to flight logistics delays, prompting calls for the federal government to expedite their repatriation.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Must ReadA senior medical doctor with the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria, working in Konshisha Local Government Area of Benue State, has died from Lassa fever complications. The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ejeh-Ogwuche, confirmed the death on Monday in Makurdi, stating that contact tracing and surveillance measures have been activated. The deceased reportedly battled the illness for over two weeks. Dr. Ogwuche noted that the death occurred as the state was preparing to be declared free of Lassa fever. The doctor, who hailed from Kwande Local Government Area, initially declined hospital admission, requesting home management, but was later referred to the University of Jos Teaching Hospital in Plateau State due to kidney complications, where he subsequently died. His remains were buried according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention protocols. Following this new outbreak, the ministry has intensified public awareness campaigns and reactivated response measures. Health authorities are also on alert for other infectious disease threats like Ebola, with strengthened surveillance across health facilities. The state had nearly completed a 42-day incubation monitoring period for Lassa fever before this new case emerged, necessitating a fresh observation cycle.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police Zachariah Fera-Achinyan, in charge of the Force Intelligence Department, stated that extortion, human rights abuses, and other misconduct by police personnel are signs of unprofessionalism and indiscipline. Speaking at a stakeholders' meeting in Gombe State, Fera-Achinyan noted that officers who engage in extortion often live beyond their legitimate means, citing instances where a corporal might live like a Deputy Superintendent of Police. He emphasized that professionalism requires sacrifice and contentment, and urged the public to recognize such behavior as a deviation from professional ethics. The DIG recalled a past culture of modesty within the Force, where officers were encouraged to live within their earnings. He also condemned other forms of misconduct, including drinking on duty and poor appearance, stating that a shabbily dressed officer often behaves shabbily. Addressing the manpower shortage, Fera-Achinyan acknowledged that Nigeria's police-to-population ratio falls short of the United Nations' recommendation of one officer per 400 people, with over 300,000 officers for a population exceeding 200 million. He explained that this shortfall led to the adoption of community policing strategies and assured that efforts are underway to improve the situation through ongoing recruitment, with plans to recruit 50,000 new officers. Gombe State is expected to receive 96 newly recruited officers for each of its 11 local government areas.
Canada's year-on-year inflation reached 3.2 percent in May, a 29-month high, primarily driven by elevated gasoline prices resulting from the Iran conflict. Statistics Canada reported that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz contributed to a 33.2 percent increase in pump prices compared to the previous year. Despite this, experts suggest that the overall inflation picture does not indicate an immediate widespread rise in consumer costs. Senior TD Bank economist Leslie Preston noted that oil prices have decreased since a tentative peace deal between Iran and the US, and gasoline prices are following this trend, leading to an expectation that May will be the peak for headline inflation this year. The Bank of Canada has maintained its core interest rate at 2.25 for five consecutive announcements, balancing the need to stimulate an economy affected by US tariffs with inflationary pressures from the Middle East.