The Federal Government says it has concluded plans to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following renewed anti-foreigner tensions and protests in parts of the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement shared on her verified Facebook page on Thursday.
According to the minister, the decision followed a telephone conversation with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, over the safety of Nigerians living in the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Lamola expressed concern over Nigeria’s evacuation plan and also acknowledged growing anti-foreigner sentiments and migrant protests in South Africa.
She noted that the latest protest occurred in Durban on May 6.
The minister stated that the Nigerian government could not remain passive while its citizens faced harassment and attacks abroad.
“I maintained that government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa.
“More so, the extra-judicial killings of our people, and that the evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remains our government’s priority at this time,” she said.
She also called on South African authorities to ensure that cases involving attacks and killings of Nigerians were treated with seriousness through the country’s police and justice systems.
“I also highlighted the need for their police and justice systems to take the cases on ground of extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa more seriously and there should be clear and immediate consequences for such acts,” she added.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu explained that although the recent protests in Durban did not result in violence due to heavy security deployment, Nigerians were advised by the Nigerian Mission to remain indoors and temporarily close their businesses and shops.
According to her, discussions between both countries centred on inflammatory rhetoric and activities linked to anti-foreigner political groups in South Africa.
She warned that such actions continued to endanger the lives and property of Nigerians and other foreign nationals residing in the country.
The minister also cautioned that persistent attacks on foreigners could negatively affect South African interests in Nigeria.
She commended Nigerians in South Africa for exercising restraint despite the tensions and provocations.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further raised concerns about reports that children of Nigerian descent, including those born to Nigerian and South African parents, were being subjected to discrimination and bullying in schools.
“Nigerian children and children born of both Nigerian and South African parents referred to as ‘Sougerians’ are being wrongfully bullied in schools, and taunted to return to their country.
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds, for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory,” she said.
The minister quoted Lamola as assuring that South African authorities recognised their responsibility to protect innocent children and were working through educational supervisory bodies to discourage discriminatory practices.
She also recalled previous condemnations by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner violence in the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu, however, expressed concern that the growing hostility appeared largely directed at black Africans.
“It appears to be targeted only toward black Africans, which makes one wonder whether what is happening should not be more accurately defined as ‘Afriphobia’ rather than Xenophobia,” she said.
The minister disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to immediately establish crisis notification units to support Nigerians facing threats or attacks.
She advised affected citizens to promptly contact South African security agencies and Nigerian diplomatic missions whenever they encounter danger or intimidation.
