Nigeria’s government has announced plans to evacuate more than 742 citizens from South Africa before June 30 as concerns mount over ongoing anti-migrant attacks targeting foreign nationals.
The assurance was given by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who said the government remains committed to protecting Nigerians abroad and ensuring the safe return of all citizens who have expressed a desire to leave South Africa.
According to the minister, the evacuation exercise is already underway. The first batch of 258 Nigerians was airlifted from South Africa and received in Lagos on June 11 by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
She disclosed that nearly 1,000 Nigerians had registered for evacuation, leaving more than 742 still awaiting transport back home.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed authorities to assist Nigerians facing danger, harassment or discrimination in South Africa and facilitate their voluntary return without delay.
The minister expressed concern about reports of attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants, noting that some affected individuals have lived in South Africa for years and have established families there.
“Some of them are married to South Africans and have children who have known no other home but South Africa,” she said, describing the situation as deeply troubling.
Nigeria is continuing diplomatic engagement with South African authorities while considering additional lawful measures to address the crisis. However, the minister stressed that any further action would follow constitutional and legislative procedures.
She also questioned what she described as unequal treatment of Nigerians despite the significant presence of South African businesses operating in Nigeria.
“There are over 120 South African companies operating in Nigeria. Nobody is asking them to provide proof of identity or taking over their businesses,” she noted.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that the activities of anti-migrant vigilante groups were damaging South Africa’s international reputation and undermining the pan-African ideals championed by former President Nelson Mandela.
“This is causing reputational damage. South Africa has been stained with the stigma of being a xenophobic country,” she said.
The minister further revealed that South African authorities had declined to activate a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Nigeria in October 2025 on an early warning mechanism designed to protect citizens of both countries during periods of tension.
According to her, South Africa later argued that officials who signed the agreement lacked the authority to make it legally binding.
She added that other African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, have also begun evacuating their nationals from South Africa as fears over the attacks continue to grow.
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