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A Johannesburg based Nigerian lawyer, Ugochukwu Anyiam, has called on the Nigerian government to engage South Africa directly over the arrest of Nigerians at airports while attempting to leave the country.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Saturday, Anyiam said some Nigerians who have been asked to leave South Africa are willing to return home voluntarily but are unable to do so because they fear being arrested at the airport.
He explained that some of those affected may not have the required immigration papers, yet they are being arrested when they attempt to leave the country.
“A lot of people who have their own papers and the people want them to leave, but they can’t leave on their own simply because when they get to the airport, they are arrested,” he said.
Anyiam questioned the logic behind the situation, particularly where South African authorities have already directed individuals to leave the country.
“They are arrested because they don’t have papers. So that drives me crazy because I ask a simple question, how do you ask somebody to leave your country and then turn around and get to the airport, and you arrest this person for leaving because you asked them to leave,” he said.
According to the lawyer, Nigeria and South Africa should reach an understanding that allows Nigerians who have been ordered to leave and are willing to do so voluntarily to depart without the fear of detention.
He suggested that both governments could establish a blanket waiver or clearance mechanism for affected Nigerians, allowing them to obtain travel documents, purchase tickets and leave without unnecessary complications at the airport.
“When it gets to this point where people are asked to leave, the two governments should have a way to sit down and, you know, a blanket waiver, clearance should be given to anybody who wants to leave. They shouldn’t be afraid of getting to the airport,” Anyiam said.
He urged the Nigerian government to take up the matter directly with its South African counterpart and seek clear assurances that Nigerians who want to return home will not be arrested simply for attempting to leave.
“So the government of Nigeria need to come on board, have a negotiation with South African government, get them informed that Nigerians who want to leave, yes, they have them documented, they can buy their own ticket, but why are they arrested when they get to the airport?” he asked.
Anyiam described the situation as a form of double standard that requires urgent diplomatic attention. He maintained that the issue should not be lost in wider discussions about the evacuation or return of Nigerians from South Africa.
“That is one area that has not been talked about enough, and it must be separated from that rest,” he said.
The lawyer’s comments come amid ongoing concerns over the treatment of Nigerians facing immigration challenges in South Africa and calls for stronger diplomatic intervention to protect the rights and dignity of Nigerian citizens abroad.
