The Federal Government has disclosed that it is considering retaliatory measures against South Africa following a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians, a development that has prompted plans to evacuate more than 1,000 affected citizens.
The latest incidents, which have persisted since last year, have seen many Nigerians subjected to harassment, assaults, displacement, and destruction of property in recurring anti-foreigner violence across South Africa.
Speaking to journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, said Nigeria was reviewing its options in response to what she described as the continued victimisation of Nigerians.
Responding to questions on whether retaliatory action was being considered, the minister said the option remained open and would depend on decisions taken at the highest levels of government.
“That is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature and the highest level of government,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed disappointment over what she described as South Africa’s treatment of Nigerians despite Nigeria’s historical support during the anti-apartheid struggle.
According to her, Nigeria committed significant resources and support to South Africa’s liberation movement, including educational opportunities and public advocacy campaigns.
She argued that Nigerians were being unfairly targeted, adding that the attacks appeared focused on black migrants.
“Nigerians are not happy about how they have treated us. They are not asking other migrants to leave; they are only asking black migrants to leave,” she stated.
The minister also dismissed claims by some South African authorities that many Nigerians seeking evacuation were undocumented migrants.
She described the allegations as false, insisting that many affected citizens were legitimate business owners whose properties had been looted or destroyed.
“Our citizens are being harassed, their properties are being looted, and criminal actions are being perpetrated against them. The police refuse to do anything, and the South African government has not come out strongly enough to condemn these incidents,” she said.
Providing an update on the evacuation process, Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that a presidential aircraft be deployed to bring home Nigerians willing to return.
She explained that although administrative procedures were still being finalised, the repatriation exercise was progressing as planned.
“Mr. President has reiterated that his aircraft must go to South Africa. Our citizens who are imperilled will have the opportunity to return home on that aircraft,” she said.
The minister noted that the number of Nigerians requesting evacuation continued to rise as documentation and security screening processes were being completed by both Nigerian and South African authorities.
She added that President Tinubu had ordered the establishment of crisis response units at Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa to coordinate assistance for affected citizens across different provinces.
According to her, arrangements have also been made to facilitate transportation to consular offices, while the documentation process is nearing completion.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu maintained that many victims of the attacks were law-abiding residents engaged in legitimate businesses, stressing that intimidation and violence had disrupted their livelihoods and affected access to education for their children.
She further disclosed that the Federal Government was collaborating with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to ensure returning Nigerians receive adequate rehabilitation and reintegration support upon arrival.
The minister reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad while pursuing diplomatic solutions to address the recurring xenophobic violence in South Africa.