ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria’s government has pledged to evacuate all citizens who have registered to return home from South Africa before June 30, following a wave of anti-migrant attacks that has raised regional and international concern.
Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Thursday that the Tinubu administration is committed to protecting Nigerians abroad and has already begun the evacuation process. The first group of 258 citizens arrived in Lagos on June 11, with more than 742 others expected in the coming days. She noted that about 1,000 Nigerians had expressed willingness to leave South Africa after reports of harassment and violence.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said President Bola Tinubu directed that no Nigerian exposed to danger should be left behind, adding that the government is engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels. She voiced concern over discrimination against Nigerians despite the presence of more than 120 South African companies operating in Nigeria, including MTN, MultiChoice and Stanbic. “This unequal treatment is troubling,” she said, warning that anti-migrant vigilante groups are damaging South Africa’s reputation across Africa and internationally.
The minister also criticized South Africa’s refusal to activate a bilateral early warning mechanism signed in 2025, which was designed to protect citizens of both countries during periods of tension. She said the attacks have stained South Africa with “the stigma of being a xenophobic country,” undermining the legacy of Nelson Mandela and prompting cancellations of concerts and conferences. Analysts warn that the crisis could strain economic and diplomatic ties between two of Africa’s largest economies, while civil society groups have urged both governments to strengthen protections for migrants and prevent further violence.
