The Federal Government has assured Nigerians living in South Africa that all citizens who have expressed their willingness to return home amid ongoing anti-migrant attacks will be evacuated before June 30.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, gave the assurance in a statement on Thursday, saying the government remains committed to protecting the lives and welfare of Nigerians abroad.
She said the evacuation exercise had already started, with the first batch of 258 Nigerians successfully airlifted from South Africa and received at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on June 11.
According to the minister, about 1,000 Nigerians have registered for evacuation, meaning more than 742 citizens are expected to be brought back in the coming days.
She stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed that Nigerians facing danger, harassment, or discrimination in South Africa and who wish to return home should be assisted without delay.
The minister also raised concerns over attacks by anti-migrant groups, saying the situation was affecting Nigerians who have lived in South Africa for years, including those married to South Africans and those with children born there.
She criticised the unequal treatment of Nigerians compared with South African companies operating in Nigeria, noting that more than 120 South African businesses operate in the country without facing similar challenges.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the activities of anti-migrant groups had damaged South Africa’s reputation across Africa and the international community, warning that the country was being associated with xenophobia.
She also revealed that South African authorities had not activated a 2025 agreement with Nigeria designed to provide an early warning system to protect citizens of both countries during periods of tension.
Other African countries, including Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, have also begun evacuating their citizens from South Africa as concerns over attacks continue.
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