The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has announced that the Federal Government is set to evacuate Nigerians who wish to return home from South Africa.
The Minister disclosed this in a statement on her verified Facebook page on Thursday, following a telephone conversation with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola.
According to her, Lamola expressed concern over the Nigerian government’s evacuation plan amid rising xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, including a recent incident in Durban on May 6.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said she made it clear that Nigeria would not stand by and watch the systematic harassment, humiliation, and extra-judicial killings of its nationals. She emphasised that the evacuation of citizens who want to return home is now a priority for the government.
She added that South African authorities must take cases of extra-judicial killings of Nigerians more seriously and ensure perpetrators face immediate consequences.
The Minister noted that although Wednesday’s protests in Durban recorded no violence due to heavy security presence, the Nigerian Mission advised citizens to close their shops and businesses and remain indoors.
She stressed that inflammatory rhetoric and actions by anti-foreigner political parties in South Africa have put the lives and property of Nigerians and other foreigners at risk, warning that such acts could endanger South African interests in Nigeria.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also highlighted the bullying of Nigerian children and “Sougerians” (children of Nigerian-South African parents) in schools, describing it as reprehensible.
She quoted Lamola as saying South African authorities are committed to protecting these children through education supervisory bodies.
The Minister added that President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian Missions in South Africa to immediately establish a crisis notification unit to assist imperiled citizens.
