The Federal Government has commenced arrangements to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following renewed anti-foreigner protests and rising tensions in parts of the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this on Thursday after a telephone conversation with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, over recent demonstrations and growing hostility against migrants, particularly in Durban.
According to the minister, the South African government expressed concerns over Nigeria’s evacuation plans. However, she maintained that the Nigerian government could not ignore what she described as the continued harassment, humiliation, and alleged extra-judicial killings of Nigerians residing in South Africa.
“I maintained that our government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa, as well as 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 stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also urged South African authorities to treat reported attacks and killings involving Nigerians with greater urgency, insisting that those responsible must be identified and sanctioned promptly.
She explained that although Wednesday’s protest in Durban did not escalate into violence due to the heavy presence of security operatives, Nigerians living in the area were advised by the Nigerian Mission to remain indoors and temporarily shut down their businesses for safety reasons.
The latest development comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of foreign nationals in South Africa, where periodic anti-immigrant protests have continued to spark tensions within migrant communities.
Credit: Vanguard
