Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has said
the Nigerian government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and
humiliation of its nationals residing in South Africa.
She stated this during a phone conversation with Ronald
Lamola, the South Africa Foreign Affairs Minister, according to a statement she
posted on her Facebook page.
The minister disclosed that the Nigerian government has
prioritized the evacuation of citizens who want to return home from South
Africa.
Bianca disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has directed
that the Nigerian Missions in South Africa set up, with immediate effect, a
Crisis Notification Unit for imperiled citizens.
The statement said, “This morning, I had a phone
conversation with Hon Ronald Lamola, South Africa Foreign Affairs Minister who
expressed concern and misgivings concerning the plans by the government of
Nigeria to evacuate its citizens desirous of leaving the Republic of South
Africa due to the recent xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments
openly expressed during continuing anti-migrant protests in South Africa, the
latest of which took place in Durban, South Africa, yesterday 6th May 2026.
“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.
“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 Nigerian minister noted that Wednesday’s protests in
Durban did not record acts of violence as there was heavy security presence,
but Nigerians were advised to close their shops and businesses and stay indoors
by the Nigerian Mission.
The statement added, “Our discussions also centered 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 jeopardizing the safety of South African interests in Nigeria.
“Nigerians have exercised, and continue to demonstrate
commendable restraint, in their response to the ongoing crisis.
“I also brought to his attention, having engaged with some
of our Nationals resident with their families in South Africa, the unfortunate
fact that Nigerian Children as well as children born of both Nigerian and South
African parents (referred to as ‘Sougerians’) are being wrongfully bullied in
schools and taunted to ‘return to their country’.
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to
young minds for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory.”
On his part, Lamola said the South African authorities
recognise that they have a responsibility to protect innocent children and they
are “doing their utmost through education supervisory bodies to discourage
these practices”.
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