The Federal Government has said it is considering retaliatory measures against South Africa following renewed attacks, harassment and forced displacement of Nigerians living in the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed this on Monday while speaking with State House correspondents in Abuja, as she condemned what she described as persistent xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerians in South Africa.
According to the minister, arrangements for the voluntary repatriation of affected Nigerians are progressing, with President Bola Tinubu directing that an aircraft be deployed to bring back citizens willing to return home.
She explained that the number of Nigerians seeking evacuation continues to rise as South African authorities and Nigerian officials carry out screening and documentation procedures required before departure.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the Federal Government activated a crisis response unit within the Nigerian Consulate and the country’s mission in Pretoria immediately reports of worsening attacks emerged.
She added that officials are working to assist Nigerians scattered across different provinces and facilitate their movement to designated centres.
The minister dismissed claims that those affected were largely undocumented migrants, insisting that many Nigerians facing attacks are legitimate residents and business owners.
She said Nigerian-owned businesses have been looted and set ablaze, while many citizens have suffered intimidation and other forms of harassment.
She also expressed concern over what she described as inadequate action by South African authorities to stop the attacks and protect victims.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that many Nigerians are living in fear, with some families affected to the extent that children are unable to attend school because of intimidation.
“Citizens are being harassed. Our citizens, their properties are being looted. Criminal actions are perpetuated on our citizens. The police refuse to do anything.
“The South African government has not come out strongly, firmly enough to condemn these incidents. So our citizens are imperilled. They are in distress. So they cannot be said to be illegal migrants.
“People who are doing legitimate business have their shops looted. They have their shops set on fire. Children cannot go to school because they are intimidated in their schools.
“So to say that Nigerians who are in South Africa doing legitimate business are illegal migrants is absolutely untrue.”
She recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, saying successive generations of Nigerians contributed resources, advocacy and other forms of assistance towards the country’s liberation.
“Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds, committed resources to aid South Africa.”
The minister said the current treatment of Nigerians has generated widespread dissatisfaction, stressing that discussions on possible retaliatory actions remain under consideration at the highest levels of government.
She, however, noted that any decision on such measures would require approval through appropriate government channels.
“That is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature. This is up to the highest. This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government. But it’s not off the table.”
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that the evacuation exercise is being coordinated with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant government agencies to ensure returning citizens receive necessary support and rehabilitation upon arrival.
Meanwhile, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged action against groups linked to the latest wave of xenophobic attacks directed at foreign nationals in the country.
The unrest has prompted several African countries, including Nigeria, to begin evacuation plans for their citizens. Authorities in Mozambique also reported that five of their nationals were killed during the violence.
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