The Federal Government has expressed strong displeasure over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, even as plans to evacuate affected citizens are being finalised.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, said on Monday that Nigerians in South Africa have continued to face harassment, intimidation, and attacks on their businesses, while authorities have not responded firmly enough to the situation.
Speaking with State House Correspondents at the Presidential Villa Abuja, Ojukwu said the Nigerian government is “not happy with South Africa,” citing what she described as continued attacks on Nigerian nationals and 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 Nigerians in South Africa are being targeted despite many of them being 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.
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She also criticised the South African government, saying it had not come out strongly enough to condemn and halt the attacks.
The minister rejected claims that most affected Nigerians were illegal migrants, insisting that many were law-abiding residents and entrepreneurs whose properties had been looted or destroyed.
Ojukwu disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that evacuation arrangements be concluded, with an aircraft expected to be deployed to bring Nigerians willing to return home.
She explained that the repatriation exercise, initially expected to begin earlier, was delayed to allow completion of documentation and screening processes in collaboration with South African authorities.
According to her, a crisis response unit has been established at Nigeria’s consulate in Johannesburg and the mission in Pretoria to coordinate assistance for affected citizens across different provinces.
Reintegration and Support After Return.
Ojukwu added that the evacuation is being carried out in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA and other government agencies to ensure that returnees are not only brought back safely but also supported upon arrival.
She said the government is making arrangements to help rehabilitate and reintegrate the affected Nigerians into society, especially those who may have lost businesses and livelihoods during the unrest.
The Federal Government says it will continue diplomatic engagement with South African authorities while ensuring the safety and orderly return of Nigerians caught in the crisis.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
