Nigeria plans to bring home its citizens who want to leave South Africa because of recent attacks. These attacks have created growing fears among foreign nationals. Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced that 130 Nigerians have already signed up for this voluntary repatriation. She expects this number to grow.
President Bola Tinubu is deeply concerned about the violence in South Africa. He strongly condemns the attacks on foreigners. These included hateful speeches and anti-migrant statements. Nigeria has called South Africa's acting High Commissioner to discuss the issue. Nigeria will officially share its great worry at a meeting today. This situation could harm the friendship between the two countries. The meeting will look at recent marches by anti-immigrant groups. It will also cover reports of Nigerians and their businesses being mistreated.
South Africa is Africa's most industrialised country. For many years, people from other African nations have gone there to find work. This has led to large migrant communities. However, some South Africans blame foreigners for taking jobs. They also accuse them of illegal activities like drug trafficking. Anti-immigrant groups have been stopping people to check their documents. This creates a climate of fear and disrupts daily life and businesses. Businesses owned by foreigners have been urged to close for safety.
Nigeria's Foreign Minister stated that Nigerian lives and businesses are at risk. Nigeria wants to work with South Africa to find solutions. She mentioned the deaths of two Nigerians. These incidents involved local security personnel. Nigeria is demanding justice for these actions. The Nigerian president's main goal is the safety of his citizens. Arrangements are being made to collect details of Nigerians in South Africa. This is for voluntary repatriation flights for those needing help to return home.
The situation affects more than just Nigerians. Four Ethiopian nationals have also died recently. Citizens from other African countries have faced attacks too. Peter Odike, a Nigerian who became a South African citizen in 2006, described the fear. He said business is completely down. Many are closing their shops because it is too dangerous to stay. This shows the significant economic disruption caused by the unrest. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks. However, he also warned foreigners to follow local laws. He reminded South Africans of the help other African countries offered during their fight against apartheid.
The Nigerian government's decision to repatriate citizens highlights the seriousness of the situation. It could strain diplomatic ties between Nigeria and South Africa. The economic impact on both countries' businesses is also a major concern. South Africa hosts about 2.4 million migrants. Many more are believed to be in the country without official papers. Most migrants come from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Some South Africans argue that an increase in migrants puts pressure on public services and jobs. This is a common argument in many countries experiencing high levels of immigration.