The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has issued an urgent advisory to Nigerian citizens residing in South Africa, calling for extreme caution and strict adherence to safety protocols.
This warning follows a circular from the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, which highlighted a surge in anti-foreigner demonstrations across several major cities. Tensions have escalated in East London, Cape Town, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where protests have reportedly devolved into violence, resulting in widespread looting, property destruction, and various injuries.
According to intelligence reports, the situation is expected to intensify with additional protests scheduled in Gauteng Province between April 27 and April 29. These demonstrations are part of a coordinated effort to pressure the South African government regarding the presence of foreign nationals.
In a press release, NiDCOM’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, urged Nigerians to avoid any engagement with protest groups and to steer clear of high-confrontation areas while monitoring local news outlets for real-time security updates.
In light of the specific risks to commerce, Nigerian business owners have been strongly advised to take preventive measures to protect their livelihoods. NiDCOM recommends shutting down operations on Freedom Day, April 27, and potentially extending these closures through April 29; noting that foreign-owned businesses are historically frequent targets during such periods of civil unrest.
At the diplomatic level, NiDCOM reaffirmed its full support for the measures taken by the Consul-General in Johannesburg, Ambassador Ninikanwa O. Okey-Uche. The consulate remains fully operational and is coordinating with South African security agencies to provide a layer of protection for Nigerian nationals.
Furthermore, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Onoh, is currently engaging in high-level talks with her South African counterparts to reach a diplomatic resolution and ensure the long-term safety of the Nigerian community.
