FG demands urgent action against attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

The Nigerian government has called upon South Africa to take immediate action to curb xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against its citizens and other African nationals living in the country. During a virtual roundtable discussion, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, emphasized the importance of adopting better migration policies, fostering responsible political leadership, and strengthening relations among African nations to prevent such incidents from recurring.

Enikanolaiye stressed that Nigeria views the current situation as a grave concern, urging the South African authorities to address the issue without downplaying or overestimating its severity. He argued that the term Afrophobia better encapsulates the nature of these attacks, describing them as having a distinctive African, post-colonial, and post-apartheid character.

The minister expressed his dismay that citizens of countries that backed South Africa during its struggle against apartheid are now being treated as "unwanted outsiders." He highlighted how Nigeria had invested over $60 billion in the liberation struggle and had also nationalized British Petroleum, provided scholarships, and facilitated accommodation for South African leaders.

Enikanolaiye emphasized that the relationship between Nigeria and South Africa transcends mere trade figures or diplomatic declarations, citing the shared history of sacrifice and solidarity.

Regarding the impact of these attacks, Enikanolaiye disclosed that approximately 90 Nigerians had been killed since June 2022, and new cases of violence and displacement had emerged in 2026. He cautioned that the violence could tarnish South Africa's international reputation, deter investors, and hinder regional integration efforts.

He urged South African authorities to enhance their migration systems, entrusting immigration enforcement to government agencies alone. The minister also warned against vigilantism and urged political leaders to refrain from inflammatory rhetoric, as labeling migrants as "criminals" or "job thieves" could incite further violence.

Furthermore, Enikanolaiye advocated for the greater reliance on accurate information and verified data in public discourse, rejecting misinformation and rumors propagated through social media. He urged both nations to activate their existing early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms, enabling early detection of tensions and timely intervention to prevent violent confrontations.