The Federal Government says it is ready to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following rising xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner protests in the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, announced the decision on Thursday in a statement.
According to the minister, the planned evacuation followed a telephone conversation with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Lamola raised concerns over Nigeria’s decision to evacuate citizens who want to leave South Africa because of recent xenophobic attacks.
She explained that the discussion focused on growing anti-foreigner sentiments and anti-migrant protests in South Africa, including the latest incident in Durban on May 6.
The minister said the Federal Government could not ignore the harassment and alleged killings of Nigerians living in South Africa.
“I maintained that government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also condemned the alleged extra-judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa.
According to her, the safety of Nigerians abroad remains a top priority for the Nigerian government.
She urged South African authorities to ensure that police and judicial institutions handle reported attacks and killings more seriously.
The minister said Nigerians in Durban were advised by the Nigerian Mission to shut their shops, suspend business activities and remain indoors during Wednesday’s protests.
She, however, noted that the protests did not turn violent because of the heavy security presence in the area.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the actions and rhetoric of anti-foreigner political groups in South Africa were putting the lives and property of Nigerians and other foreign nationals at risk.
She warned that continued attacks on foreigners could also threaten South African interests in Nigeria.
According to the minister, Nigerians have continued to show restraint despite the tension.
She also raised concerns about the treatment of Nigerian children and children born to Nigerian and South African parents, popularly referred to as “Sougerians.”
“Nigerian children and children born of both Nigerian and South African parents are being bullied in schools and told to return to their country,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the situation as disturbing and capable of causing emotional trauma to children.
She quoted Lamola as saying that South African authorities recognised their responsibility to protect affected children and discourage discriminatory behaviour through educational institutions.
The minister also recalled previous condemnations of xenophobic violence by South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa.
She said Nigerians were worried by growing calls for all foreigners to leave South Africa.
According to her, the attacks appeared to target mainly black Africans, raising questions about whether the situation should be described as “Afriphobia” instead of xenophobia.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that President Bola Tinubu had directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to immediately establish crisis notification units for Nigerians facing danger.
She advised Nigerians in South Africa to contact local security agencies and Nigerian diplomatic missions whenever they face threats or unsafe situations.