ABUJA, Nigeria – President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigerian Missions in South Africa to immediately establish a crisis notification unit for Nigerians affected by the recent xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments in the country.
The directive was disclosed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, following a telephone conversation with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that Nigerians living in South Africa have also been advised to promptly contact South African security authorities whenever they face threats or dangerous situations.
Full statement:
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.
Yesterday’s protests in Durban did not record acts of violence as there was heavy security presence. However Nigerians were advised to close their shops and businesses and stay largely indoors by Mission.
Our discussions also centered on the violent and indiscriminate rhetoric and actions of South Africa’s anti-foreigner political parties which puts the lives and properties of Nigerian and other Nationals at risk, but which conversely might also have the effect jeopardizing the safety of South African interests in Nigeria. Nigerians have exercised, and continue to demonstrate commendable restraint, in their response to the ongoing crisis.
I also brought to his attention, having engaged with some of our Nationals resident with their families in South Africa, the unfortunate fact that Nigerian Children as well as children born of both Nigerian and South African parents (referred to as ‘Sougerians’ ) are being wrongfully bullied in schools and taunted to ‘return to their country’. This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory.
Hon. Lamola informed that the SA authorities recognise that they have a responsibility to protect these innocent children and doing their utmost through education supervisory bodies to discourage these practices.
While we both pledged to continue to work together to de-escalate this crisis, noting the vehement condemnations of the President of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa and SA Government of the prevailing state of affairs, what is worrisome to our citizens both in Nigeria and those resident in South Africa is that the demand that all foreigners leave South Africa, appears to be targeted only towards black Africans which makes one wonder whether what is happening should not be more accurately defined as ‘Afriphobia’ rather than Xenophobia.
The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that the Nigerian Missions in South Africa set up, with immediate effect, a crisis notifications unit for imperiled citizens who have also been advised first and foremost to contact SA security authorities whenever dangerous situations arise.
