The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) has announced that three Nigerian nationals stranded at a South African airport have been cleared and departed South Africa.

They are expected to arrive in Lagos this morning.

In a statement on Sunday, NIDCOM expressed concern over the circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident.

"The core issue in many such cases stems from the over-reliance on unregulated visa agents. These agents often collect applicants’ passport data pages and complete sections of the visa application, particularly on purpose of visit, itinerary, accommodation, and ties to Nigeria, without the full knowledge or approval of the travellers. Consequently, many applicants are unable to defend the information provided when questioned during immigration interviews, resulting in entry refusal.

"In this particular case, one of the individuals had previously posted insulting remarks about the South African government online. This had already placed him on their watchlist.

"When confronted at the port of entry, he was unable to defend or substantiate those statements, which further aggravated the situation," NiDCOM said.

NIDCOM’s Advisory to All Nigerian Travellers:
1. Apply for visas directly or through only licensed and verifiable agents. Never allow any third party to fill sections of your application without your full review and approval.

2. Ensure every detail submitted is accurate and that you can personally explain and defend it during any immigration interview.

4. Be mindful of your digital footprint. Immigration authorities routinely conduct social media checks. Derogatory or inflammatory posts [about other countries or your home country] can lead to secondary screening or visa denial.

5. Always travel with genuine, well-documented reasons for your visit and carry all necessary supporting evidence.

NIDCOM promised to continue to monitor the situation and engage the relevant South African authorities to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

"We strongly urge all Nigerians planning international travel to exercise due diligence. Responsible preparation protects not only the individual but also Nigeria’s reputation," the agency said.