By Ebi Kesiena
President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish an emergency crisis notification unit to assist Nigerians affected by rising anti-foreigner attacks in the country.
The directive followed a telephone conversation between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, amid growing tensions and fears over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigerians facing threats were advised to immediately contact South African security agencies while the newly established crisis units would coordinate emergency support.
She disclosed that Lamola expressed concern over Nigeria’s evacuation plans for its citizens, but stressed that the Federal Government could not ignore the alleged harassment, humiliation and extrajudicial killings of Nigerians.
“Our government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa,” she said, adding that evacuating willing Nigerians remained a top priority.
The minister also urged South African authorities to ensure swift justice in cases involving attacks and killings of Nigerians, insisting that perpetrators must face clear consequences.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu condemned the rising anti-foreigner rhetoric by some South African political groups, warning that such actions endangered the lives and property of Nigerians and other African nationals.
She further revealed that Nigerian children and those born to Nigerian-South African parents, popularly referred to as “Sougerians”, were reportedly being bullied in schools and told to “return to their country.”
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds,” she said.
According to her, Lamola acknowledged the concerns and assured that South African authorities were engaging education bodies to address the situation.
The minister commended Nigerians in South Africa for exercising restraint despite the tensions, while questioning whether the attacks should still be described as xenophobia.
“The demand that all foreigners leave South Africa appears targeted mainly at black Africans, which raises the question of whether this should more accurately be described as ‘Afriphobia,’” she said.
Both countries agreed to continue diplomatic engagements to de-escalate the crisis, although Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that hostility on the ground had yet to subside.
She confirmed that at least 130 Nigerians had registered for voluntary evacuation flights from South Africa following the unrest.
