The Federal Government has promised to evacuate all Nigerians who have expressed interest in returning from South Africa due to ongoing xenophobic attacks before the June 30 deadline. This assurance was given by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, through a press statement issued on Thursday and signed by her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, Magnus Eze.
Evacuation Progress
The evacuation, currently midway, began with the first batch of 258 Nigerians airlifted from South Africa and received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11 by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye. Over 742 Nigerians are still expected to be evacuated in subsequent batches. The minister disclosed that about 1,000 Nigerians had registered for evacuation, and arrangements are being finalized to bring home the remaining citizens before the deadline.
Presidential Directive
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that President Bola Tinubu had directed that Nigerians exposed to danger and harassment in South Africa who voluntarily opt to return be assisted without delay. She expressed concern over reports of discrimination and attacks against Nigerians and other African migrants, noting that Nigeria is engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels and exploring lawful options to address the situation.
Diplomatic Concerns
The minister criticized what she described as the uneven treatment of Nigerians compared to South African businesses operating in Nigeria, citing major companies such as MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic, and Protea Hotels. She also noted that the activities of anti-migrant vigilante groups have caused reputational damage to South Africa and undermined its global image as a post-apartheid symbol of pan-African unity.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that South African authorities had declined to activate a Memorandum of Understanding on an early warning mechanism signed with Nigeria in October 2025, which was intended to protect citizens during periods of tension, citing procedural issues. She also noted that countries including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique had begun evacuating their nationals from South Africa over rising security concerns.
