The Federal Government has begun arrangements to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following renewed anti-foreigner protests and rising tensions in parts of the country, particularly in Durban.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this after a telephone conversation with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the South African government expressed reservations about Nigeria’s evacuation plans, but she insisted that Abuja could not ignore what she described as the continued harassment and alleged extra-judicial killings of Nigerians living in South Africa.
She stated that the Nigerian government’s immediate priority was the safe return of citizens willing to leave the country, stressing that authorities could not “stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation” of Nigerians abroad.
The minister said protests held in Durban on Wednesday did not turn violent due to the heavy presence of security personnel. However, Nigerians in the area were reportedly advised by the Nigerian Mission to remain indoors and temporarily shut their businesses for safety reasons.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also raised concerns over what she called inflammatory rhetoric and hostile actions by anti-foreigner groups, warning that the growing hostility posed serious threats to Nigerians and other African migrants. She noted that Nigerian families had reported cases of bullying involving children of Nigerian descent, including those born to Nigerian and South African parents, popularly referred to as “Sougerians.”
She said South African authorities had acknowledged the concerns and promised to work with relevant education agencies to address reports of discrimination in schools. The minister, however, questioned the continued description of the attacks as xenophobia, arguing that black Africans appeared to be the main targets.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has also directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish crisis notification centres to assist Nigerians facing threats or intimidation.
Meanwhile, calls for economic retaliation against South African companies operating in Nigeria have continued to grow. Senator Adams Oshiomhole urged the Federal Government to consider revoking the licences of firms such as MTN Nigeria and MultiChoice, while the National Association of Nigerian Students threatened protests against South African-linked businesses.
However, several economists cautioned against blanket sanctions, warning that such measures could hurt Nigeria’s economy more than South Africa’s. Analysts including Miss Nnoruga Onyedikachi of FSL Capital, Muda Yusuf of the Centre for the Promotion of Public Enterprise, and Olufunmilola Adebowale of Parthian Partners argued that shutting down South African companies would lead to job losses, investor uncertainty, and disruptions in key sectors such as telecommunications.
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, through its spokesman Abdulrahman Balogun, also defended continued diplomatic engagement with South Africa, insisting that dialogue remains the most realistic path to resolving the recurring tensions.
