The Federal Government has expressed strong disappointment over the South African authorities’ handling of ongoing harassment, intimidation, and violent attacks targeting Nigerians.
Speaking to State House correspondents, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu, flatly rejected claims by South African officials that the targeted citizens are mostly illegal migrants, describing the assertions as absolutely untrue.
Highlighting Nigeria’s historical sacrifices and committed resources during South Africa’s struggle against apartheid, Ojukwu noted that Nigerians are deeply aggrieved by the hostile treatment, especially as the hostility selectively targets black migrants.
In response to the crisis, the Nigerian government has launched an emergency response operation to rescue its citizens who have been left “imperiled” and “in distress” following a wave of targeted attacks and property looting.
Ambassador Ojukwu confirmed that President Bola Tinubu directed the immediate establishment of crisis response units within the Nigerian Consulate and the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria to coordinate the evacuation.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further revealed that the government will fully fund the repatriation exercise this time around, departing from the 2019 crisis where it relied on private philanthropy for evacuation flights.
Meanwhile, the scheduled evacuation of the first batch of 270 Nigerians from Johannesburg was postponed by two days due to unforeseen logistical challenges.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, explained that the delay was necessary to finalize mandatory documentation and screening formalities with South African Homeland Security.
The Ministry confirmed that over 1,000 Nigerians have already been successfully screened and cleared to return home, with the flight now expected to depart on Wednesday.
The diplomatic friction continues to intensify as Nigeria refuses to rule out punitive retaliatory measures against South African interests.
Ambassador Ojukwu indicated that restricting privileges for South Africans in Nigeria is a strategy currently under serious consideration, noting that while the decision must be taken at the highest level of government and involve the legislature, it remains firmly on the table.
Once the evacuees arrive in Lagos, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to work alongside the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and various government parastatals to ensure their immediate rehabilitation and reintegration.
The brewing diplomatic row comes on the heels of a televised broadcast by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who condemned the violence but vowed a strict crackdown on illegal migration.
While Ramaphosa cautioned South Africans against launching violent reprisals and urged them to seek peace, his administration’s rhetoric regarding undocumented foreigners has done little to soothe tensions.
As the Nigerian government finalizes its flight clearances, the unfolding situation highlights a profound strain on the historical relationship between two of Africa’s largest economies.
