Xenophobia: Nigeria considers retaliatory measures against South Africa

Nigeria has warned that it may reassess aspects of its relationship with South Africa following a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks directed at Nigerians living in the country.

Speaking after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, criticised what she described as an inadequate response from South African authorities to the violence and intimidation faced by Nigerian nationals.

According to the minister, Nigerians who are legally resident in South Africa have become targets of harassment, while their businesses and families have suffered repeated attacks.

She said, “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.

“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.”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu also expressed disappointment over what she sees as a failure to recognise Nigeria’s long-standing support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle.

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.

“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.”

Addressing the nature of the protests and attacks, the minister argued that black migrants appeared to be the primary targets.

“They are not asking other migrants to leave. They are only asking black migrants to leave,” she said.

Asked whether the Federal Government might take reciprocal measures against South African interests operating in Nigeria, she confirmed that such discussions were underway.

“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,” she stated.