FG deports another 16 South Africans

The diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa deepened on Tuesday night as another batch of 16 South Africans were deported from the country.

This brings to 44 the number of South Africans deported from Nigeria in two days.

Immigration sources at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos said the 16 deportees, who arrived in Nigeria aboard a South African Airways Airbus A330 at about 8:30pm, were denied entry due “improper travel documents”.

According to the sources, the exercise was supervised by the Deputy Controller of Immigration in charge of the MMIA, Mrs. Rebecca Ayuba.

Ayuba was said to be acting on ‘order from above’.

It was learnt that the repatriation of South Africans might continue if their government refuse to stop the alleged maltreatment of Nigerians travelling to Southern African country over a lack of genuine yellow fever vaccination cards.

Twenty-eight South Africans were sent back home on Monday night for improper travel documentation and lack of travel health certificate, according to immigration sources.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority, the aviation industry regulator, has summoned South African Airways and Arik Air to explains circumstances surrounding the spate of deportation of Nigerians travelling to South Africa.

The Director-General, NCAA, Dr. Harold Demuren, met with officials of the two airlines in a closed-door meeting at the agency’s headquarters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on Tuesday, according to aviation industry sources.

Details of the meeting could not be ascertained as at press time.