South African authorities have granted landing permit to Air Peace Flight B777 to enable it to evacuate some 320 Nigerians escaping from xenophobia in that country, a Nigerian consular officer has confirmed.
Nigeria’s Consul-General in Johannesburg, Mr. Godwin Adama, made the confirmation in a telephone interview with Newsmen yesterday afternoon.
Adama spoke against the background of a complaint by the Managing Director of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema.
Onyema had said the refusal of South Africa to grant the landing permit made it impossible for the flight to leave Lagos at 1a.m. on Tuesday for Johannesburg to convey the second batch of returnees.
But Adama said the permit had been granted the airline and that the flight was to take place last night.