The Federal Government on Monday declared its displeasure with the failure of the South African government to respond firmly to the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian citizens. It warned that retaliatory diplomatic actions, including a review of bilateral privileges, are currently being considered and remain on the table.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The minister rejected claims by some South African authorities that the targeted Nigerians were illegal migrants. She pointed out that Nigerian passport holders were being harassed, while their business premises were looted and set ablaze, and their children faced intimidation in schools as South African police officers failed to intervene.
Speaking on the situation, Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated, “Our citizens are being harassed. Our citizens’ properties are being looted. Criminal actions are being perpetrated, and the police refuse to do anything. The South African government has not come out strongly and firmly enough to condemn these incidents.”
She further clarified that the targeted individuals were lawful residents, adding, “To say that Nigerians who are in South Africa doing legitimate business are illegal migrants is absolutely untrue. People who are doing legitimate business have their shops looted, their shops set on fire. Children cannot go to school because they are intimidated in their schools.”
The minister recalled the historical sacrifices made by Nigeria toward the independence of South Africa, noting that the ongoing treatment of Nigerians is painful and unacceptable. She said, “Nigeria is not happy with South Africa. Nigeria sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria committed funds, committed resources. In schools, seats were reserved for South African students.”
Remembering the anti-apartheid efforts of past decades, she added, “My own generation, we carried placards, we demonstrated in front of South African assets. Sometimes we even got arrested for doing this. Nigeria is a serious frontline state, and Nigerians are not happy about how they have been treated.”
Commenting on the specific nature of the hostilities, the minister remarked, “They are not asking other migrants to leave. They are only asking black migrants to leave.”
When questioned on whether Nigeria would take retaliatory measures, such as suspending or reviewing privileges enjoyed by South African businesses and nationals operating within Nigeria, Odumegwu-Ojukwu replied, “That is a situation that we are considering. This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government. But it is not off the table.”
Prior to this, the House of Representatives recommended a temporary suspension of business permits for South African companies in Nigeria. Similarly, the Senate resolved to dispatch a high-powered delegation led by Senate President Godswill Akpabio to South Africa to formally convey the displeasure of the country. Regarding repatriation efforts, Odumegwu-Ojukwu confirmed that President Tinubu had approved five evacuation flights through Air Peace. He also ordered the immediate establishment of a crisis response unit within the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg and the mission in Pretoria.
As of Monday, June 8, a total of 1,092 Nigerians had voluntarily registered for repatriation, with the screening exercise extended until June 10 to capture all applicants. Over 500 Nigerians have been screened and cleared for evacuation so far. The initial flight, which was scheduled to airlift approximately 270 passengers out of Johannesburg on Monday, was shifted to Wednesday due to logistics. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs clarified that the delay resulted from operational issues requiring extra coordination, rather than diplomatic hurdles.
The minister explained that the evacuation exercise is being conducted in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency and other federal bodies to provide rehabilitation support upon arrival. She scorecard, “This evacuation is being undertaken with NEMA. We are doing that with various government agencies and parastatals to ensure that once Nigerians come in, they can be rehabilitated.”
The current diplomatic crisis was sparked by anti-immigration protests organized by groups such as Operation Dudula and March for March in late April 2026, creating widespread fear among foreign nationals across multiple South African provinces. The South African government has publicly opposed the evacuation plans. South Africa’s foreign minister expressed reservations during a telephone conversation with Odumegwu-Ojukwu on May 7.
However, Ojukwu maintained her stance during the discussion. Detailing her response to her South African counterpart, she said, “I maintained that our government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa as well as the extrajudicial killings of our people, and that the evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remains our government’s priority at this time.”
Earlier on May 4, the Federal Government summoned the Acting South African High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele, for urgent discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Abuja. This follows previous waves of xenophobic violence in 2008, 2015, and 2019, which caused displacement and deaths of foreign nationals, straining bilateral ties. During the 2019 crisis, Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema offered free flights, and Nigeria recalled its High Commissioner as South African businesses faced retaliatory demonstrations locally.
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