President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to urgently establish crisis notification units to support citizens facing danger, as concerns grow over escalating anti-foreigner violence.
The directive was announced by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, following a phone conversation with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, on Thursday, May 7.
In a statement, the minister said Nigerians in distress have also been advised to first contact South African security authorities in emergency situations.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, has directed that the Nigerian missions in South Africa set up, with immediate effect, a crisis notifications unit for imperilled citizens who have also been advised first and foremost to contact SA security authorities whenever dangerous situations arise,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that Lamola raised concerns over Nigeria’s evacuation plans, but maintained that the government would not ignore attacks on its citizens.
“I maintained that our government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in SA 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 said.
She also called for stronger action from South African authorities, urging swift justice in cases involving Nigerians.
“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 that there should be clear and immediate consequences for such acts,” the minister said.
The minister warned that inflammatory rhetoric by anti-foreigner groups in South Africa could worsen tensions and even affect South African interests in Nigeria.
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“Our discussions also centred on the violent and indiscriminate rhetoric and actions of South Africa’s anti-foreigner political parties which puts the lives and properties of Nigerian and other nationals at risk, but which conversely might also have the effect of jeopardising the safety of South African interests in Nigeria,” she said.
She further revealed that Nigerian children, including those born to Nigerian and South African parents, were facing bullying in schools.
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.
While acknowledging assurances from South African authorities to address the issue, she commended Nigerians for their restraint amid the crisis.
“Nigerians have exercised, and continue to demonstrate, commendable restraint in their response to the ongoing crisis,” she said.
Raising concerns over the nature of the attacks, the minister questioned whether the violence should be described differently.
“What is worrisome to our citizens both in Nigeria and those resident in South Africa is that the demand that all foreigners leave South Africa appears to be targeted only towards black Africans, which makes one wonder whether what is happening should not be more accurately defined as ‘Afriphobia’ rather than xenophobia,” she said.
The Federal Government said it would continue engaging South African authorities to ease tensions, even as evacuation plans remain in place for Nigerians willing to return home.
At least 130 Nigerians have already registered for voluntary evacuation, while recent protests in cities including Pretoria, Johannesburg and Durban have heightened fears among foreign nationals.
The development adds to a history of recurring anti-foreigner violence in South Africa, which has strained relations with Nigeria over the years.