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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Federal Government has voiced strong displeasure over how Nigerians in South Africa are being treated, even as arrangements to evacuate those who want to return are being finalised.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Ojukwu said on Monday that Nigerians in South Africa continue to face harassment, intimidation and attacks on their businesses, while authorities there have not responded firmly enough.
Speaking with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Ojukwu said the Nigerian government is “not happy with South Africa,” pointing to ongoing assaults on Nigerian nationals and what she called an inadequate official response.
“Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds, committed resources to aid South Africa,” she said.
Ojukwu said many of the Nigerians being targeted are legitimate residents and business owners.
“Our citizens are being harassed, their properties are being looted, criminal actions are being perpetrated against our citizens, and the police refuse to do anything,” she said.
She accused the South African government of failing to condemn and stop the attacks robustly. Ojukwu also dismissed suggestions that most of the affected Nigerians are illegal migrants, insisting that many are law‑abiding residents and entrepreneurs whose properties have been looted or destroyed.
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She disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that evacuation arrangements be concluded, and that an aircraft is expected to be deployed to bring home Nigerians who wish to return.
She explained the repatriation exercise, originally scheduled to start earlier, was delayed to complete documentation and screening in cooperation with South African authorities.
She added that a crisis response unit has been established at Nigeria’s consulate in Johannesburg and at the mission in Pretoria to coordinate assistance for affected citizens across provinces.
Ojukwu said the evacuation is being conducted with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government agencies to ensure returnees are safely brought home and supported on arrival.
She added the government is making arrangements to help rehabilitate and reintegrate those who lost businesses and livelihoods during the unrest.
She said the Federal Government will press on with diplomatic engagement with South African authorities while ensuring the safety and orderly return of Nigerians caught up in the crisis.
