Nigeria condemns South Africa xenophobia response, considers diplomatic measures as attacks on Nigerians continue

Nigeria has expressed strong dissatisfaction with South Africa’s handling of renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerian nationals, with the Federal Government warning that retaliatory diplomatic measures, including a review of bilateral privileges, remain under active consideration.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu criticised South African authorities for failing to respond firmly to the attacks, which she said have seen Nigerians harassed, their businesses looted and burnt, and their children intimidated in schools.

“Our citizens are being harassed. Our citizens’ properties are being looted. Criminal actions are being perpetrated, and the police refuse to do anything.

The South African government has not come out strongly and firmly enough to condemn these incidents,” the minister said.

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu also rejected claims by some South African officials that Nigerians affected by the attacks were undocumented migrants.

According to the minister, many of those targeted are legitimate business owners and lawful residents whose livelihoods have been devastated by the violence.

“To say that Nigerians who are in South Africa doing legitimate business are illegal migrants is absolutely untrue.

People who are doing legitimate business have their shops looted, their shops set on fire. Children cannot go to school because they are intimidated in their schools,” she added.

The minister described the situation as particularly painful given Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle.

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu recalled that Nigeria committed significant financial resources and educational opportunities to South Africans during the fight against apartheid, while many Nigerians actively participated in solidarity campaigns.

“Nigeria is not happy with South Africa. Nigeria sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria committed funds, committed resources.

In schools, seats were reserved for South African students,” she said.

The minister further argued that the attacks appeared to be directed primarily at black African migrants.

“They are not asking other migrants to leave. They are only asking black migrants to leave,” she stated.

Asked whether Nigeria could review privileges currently enjoyed by South African businesses and nationals operating in the country, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said such measures were being considered at the highest levels of government.

“That is a situation that we are considering. This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government. But it is not off the table,” she said.

The remarks came after the House of Representatives recommended a temporary suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria, while the Senate resolved to dispatch a high-level delegation led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to South Africa to convey Nigeria’s concerns.

On efforts to assist affected citizens, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed that President Bola Tinubu had approved five evacuation flights to be operated by Air Peace and directed the immediate establishment of crisis response units at Nigeria’s consulate in Johannesburg and mission in Pretoria.

The minister disclosed that 1,092 Nigerians had voluntarily registered for repatriation as of Monday, with the screening exercise extended until June 10 to accommodate additional applicants.

More than 500 Nigerians have already been screened and cleared for evacuation.

The first evacuation flight, expected to transport about 270 passengers from Johannesburg, was postponed from Monday to Wednesday due to logistical considerations.

Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that the delay was operational rather than diplomatic and said returning Nigerians would receive rehabilitation support through a coordinated government programme involving the National Emergency Management Agency and other agencies.

“This evacuation is being undertaken with NEMA. We are doing that with various government agencies and parastatals to ensure that once Nigerians come in, they can be rehabilitated,” she said.

The current crisis emerged following anti-immigration demonstrations organised by groups including Operation Dudula and March for March in late April 2026, which heightened fears among foreign nationals across several South African provinces.

South Africa’s government has previously expressed reservations about Nigeria’s evacuation plans. Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that during a telephone conversation on May 7, South Africa’s foreign minister questioned the necessity of the exercise.

The minister said she defended Nigeria’s position and insisted that protecting affected citizens remained the government’s overriding priority.

The Federal Government had earlier summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja on May 4 for urgent discussions over the situation.

The latest tensions revive memories of previous waves of xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015 and 2019, which resulted in deaths, displacement and significant diplomatic strain between Africa’s two largest economies.

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During the 2019 crisis, Air Peace Chairman Allen Onyema provided free evacuation flights for Nigerians seeking to return home, while diplomatic relations between both countries deteriorated sharply amid retaliatory incidents and official protests.