(Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu. Photo by Arise News)
The Federal Government has assured Nigerians in South Africa who have expressed willingness to return home amid ongoing anti-migrant attacks that all of them will be evacuated before a June 30 deadline.
In a statement signed by Special Assistant on Communication Magnus Eze, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the Tinubu administration remains fully committed to ensuring no willing Nigerian is left behind.
She disclosed that evacuation efforts are already underway, with the first batch of 258 Nigerians airlifted from South Africa and received at Lagos's Murtala Mohammed International Airport on June 11 by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye.
With roughly 1,000 Nigerians having registered for evacuation, more than 740 are expected to be brought home in the coming days as arrangements are finalized.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu had directed that Nigerians facing danger or harassment in South Africa, and who wish to return, be assisted without delay, noting the president's deep concern over reports of discrimination and violence targeting Nigerian and other African migrants in the country.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria continues to engage South African authorities through diplomatic channels while exploring other lawful avenues to address the crisis, stressing that any further action would be guided by constitutional and legislative procedures.
She acknowledged the need for caution and restraint, but emphasized the seriousness of the situation, noting that some affected Nigerians have lived in South Africa for years, married South African citizens, and have children who have never known any other home yet entire families are reportedly being told to leave.
She also highlighted what she described as a troubling double standard, pointing out that over 120 South African companies operate freely in Nigeria without facing identity checks, harassment, or business takeovers, while Nigerians in South Africa face very different treatment.
She cited major South African brands such as MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic, and Protea as examples of the extensive South African business presence in Nigeria.
The minister further argued that the actions of anti-migrant vigilante groups in South Africa have not only endangered lives and livelihoods but have also damaged the country's international reputation, undermining the legacy of pan-Africanism championed by Nelson Mandela.
She noted that the fallout has extended within South Africa itself, with concerts and conferences reportedly being cancelled as the country grapples with growing perceptions of xenophobia.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also revealed that South African authorities had declined to activate a bilateral early warning mechanism agreed upon in October 2025, intended to protect citizens of both countries during periods of tension, with South Africa later claiming that those who signed the agreement lacked the authority to make it binding and that further procedural steps were required.
She noted that Nigeria is not alone in responding to the crisis, with countries including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique also beginning evacuation efforts for their own nationals as concerns over the attacks continue to mount.
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