FG demands urgent action against attacks on Nigerians in South Africa

The Federal Government has urged South Africa to take urgent steps to stop xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.

The government also called for better migration policies, responsible political leadership and stronger relations among African countries to prevent further attacks on migrants.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Tuesday during a virtual roundtable on “South Africa’s Xenophobia in Comparative Perspective”, organised by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria considered the situation a serious issue that should be addressed without either denying the problem or exaggerating it. He also said the term Afrophobia better described the attacks.

He described the violence as having “a particularly African, post-colonial and post-apartheid character.”

The minister said it was disturbing that citizens of countries that supported South Africa during its fight against apartheid were now being treated as “unwanted outsiders.”

He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had asked the NIIA to conduct a detailed study of Nigeria’s contribution to South Africa’s liberation struggle.

According to him, Nigeria spent more than $60 billion on the struggle, while it also nationalised British Petroleum, offered scholarships and provided accommodation for South African leaders.

“The relationship between Nigeria and South Africa is not reducible to trade statistics or diplomatic communiqués. There is history in that relationship. There is blood, sacrifice and solidarity in that history,” he said.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria was especially worried about the deaths linked to Afrophobic attacks, revealing that about 90 Nigerians had been killed since June 2022.

He added that new attacks and cases of displacement had also been recorded in 2026.

The minister warned that the violence could damage South Africa’s international image, investor confidence and efforts to promote regional integration.

He urged South African authorities to improve migration systems and ensure that only government agencies enforce immigration laws.

He also warned against vigilantism and asked political leaders to avoid inflammatory statements, saying descriptions of migrants as “criminals” or “job thieves” could encourage violence.

Enikanolaiye further called for greater use of facts and reliable data in public discussions, instead of misinformation and rumours shared on social media.

He also urged both countries to fully activate their existing early-warning and rapid-response systems so that tensions can be identified and addressed before they turn violent.