As the June 30 deadline handed down to foreigner to leave South Africa by rampaging anti-immigrant brigands, thousands of Nigeria’s are said to be stranded in the country even though they are ready to leave if the government provides badly needed intervention.

The desperate situation was revealed by the Nigerian Citizens Association South Africa (NICASA) which said hundreds of people who have indicated interest in returning to Nigeria as a result of the current xenophobic attacks are facing untold hardship over delayed flights.

The Federal Government had, on June 7, 2026, promised to deploy five chartered evacuation flights via Air Peace to repatriate Nigerians back home from South Africa.

However, only one flight has taken off so far, arriving in Lagos last week Thursday with 258 returnees from over 1,000 said to have indicated their interest in returning home.

In a statement signed by Frank Onyekwelu, the National President of NICASA the association said, “Hundreds of Nigerians who responded to the Federal Government’s evacuation programme have endured untold hardship following delays in the scheduled repatriation flights.

“Many of these citizens travelled from distant provinces across South Africa after being instructed to report for registration and screening. Today, numerous families, including women and children, are stranded without shelter, food, transportation, or financial means to sustain themselves.

“The situation has become increasingly distressing as some of our nationals have been left sleeping in difficult conditions, uncertain of when they will return home.

“Several have exhausted their limited resources after travelling long distances in good faith, believing that arrangements had been adequately concluded for their departure,” the body lamented.

NICASA, therefore, “makes an urgent and passionate appeal to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, the National Assembly, particularly the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Matters, to immediately intervene in the worsening humanitarian situation facing stranded Nigerian nationals awaiting voluntary repatriation from South Africa.”

It called on the Federal Government to immediately intervene and expedite the completion of the repatriation programme. It also demanded the deployment of emergency resources and the establishment of a humanitarian support mechanism for stranded Nigerians pending their departure. “Relevant government agencies to urgently facilitate the remaining four evacuation flights so that all registered citizens can be safely returned home without further delay.

“The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to improve communication, provide temporary welfare support, and engage constructively with community leadership structures to address the immediate needs of affected citizens,” the association said.

Photo caption: NELFUND logo

Beneficiaries of federal government’s National Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, have lamented failure of authorities to release their allowances for the past twoontjs.

Responding to the situation, the National Association of Nigerian Students ,NANS, has issued a stern warning to government and the Fund’s management, threatening to embark on protest if the funds are further delayed.

In a strongly worded statement released on Saturday, NANS President, Comrade Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, expressed outrage over what he described as a prolonged and unexplained delay in the disbursement of upkeep allowances to thousands of student beneficiaries across the country.

According to the student body, the allowances, which form a critical component of the NELFUND support scheme, have allegedly not been paid for the past two months, leaving many students struggling to cope with rising living costs amid the nation’s economic challenges.

NANS said it had received numerous complaints from affected students and accused the relevant authorities of failing to provide clear explanations for the disruption in payments.

“The continued delay in the disbursement of these allowances is completely unacceptable,” Akinteye declared.

He added:“The essence of the NELFUND initiative is to provide relief and support to Nigerian students. Any delay that deprives beneficiaries of access to these funds defeats the purpose for which the programme was established.”

The students’ association called on the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, to urgently intervene and remove all bottlenecks responsible for the payment delays.

NANS further demanded immediate disbursement of all outstanding allowances and a transparent explanation from the authorities on the cause of the disruption.

The association warned that failure to address the issue promptly could trigger peaceful nationwide protests by students, including the occupation of the NELFUND headquarters, until concrete action is taken.

“Failure to resolve the matter within the shortest possible time will leave Nigerian students with no option but to embark on peaceful mass action,” the statement said.

President Bola Tinubu has extended the tenure of Adewale Adeniyi, comptroller-general (CG) of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), for six months.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information and strategy to the president, said in a statement on Friday that Adeniyi’s first tenure extension granted in July 2025 ought to have expired on August 1, 2026.

Onanuga said the six-month extension, which will expire in February 2027, is to enable him to consolidate the implementation of the national single window and ensure an orderly succession in the service.

“During the transition period, Adeniyi, working with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Board, will ensure the promotion of eligible officers to the rank of Comptroller of Customs and the compulsory retirement of officers who have attained 60 years of age or have served 35 years,” the statement reads.

“Adeniyi joined the Customs Service after graduating from Obafemi Awolowo University in the late 80s.

“He rose through the ranks, becoming deputy comptroller in 2012, comptroller in 2017, assistant comptroller general in 2020, acting deputy comptroller-general in January 2023, before his appointment by President Tinubu in June 2023 as the Comptroller General.”

On October 19, 2023, President Tinubu confirmed Adeniyi as the substantive CG of customs. He had previously served in an acting capacity after taking over from his predecessor, Hameed Ali, in June.

His initial tenure was due to end on August 31, 2025, after he completed 35 years of service.

However, the president extended his tenure by one year, which is expected to lapse in August 2026.

The Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 empowers the president to appoint a career officer not below the rank of assistant comptroller-general as CG, but it does not prescribe a fixed statutory term of office.

The tenure is governed by the extant provisions of the public service rules (PSR), under which civil servants retire at 60 years of age or after 35 years of pensionable service, whichever comes first.