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.
Credit: dailypost.ng
