The Federal Government has called for urgent and concrete measures to halt xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa, insisting the crisis must be addressed through stronger migration governance, responsible leadership, and deeper people-to-people ties across the continent.
The Honourable Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye, made the call on Tuesday at a Virtual Roundtable on “South Africa’s Xenophobia in Comparative Perspective” convened by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
Speaking at the forum, Ambassador Enikanolaiye said Nigeria views the challenge “as one that must be understood without denial or exaggeration.” He described the violence as bearing “a particularly African, post-colonial and post-apartheid character,” hence the more accurate term, Afrophobia.
He decried the contradiction of citizens from countries that stood with South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle now being targeted as “unwanted outsiders.”
To preserve that historical record, the Minister disclosed that “the Ministry has directed the NIIA to undertake a comprehensive study documenting Nigeria’s support for the liberation struggle.”
He noted that Nigeria’s financial commitment was estimated at “over $60 billion, in addition to the nationalization of British Petroleum, scholarships, and hospitality extended to South African leaders in Nigeria.”
“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,” Ambassador Enikanolaiye stated.
The Minister expressed grave concern over the loss of lives, noting that “since June 2022, about 90 Nigerians have been killed in Afrophobic violence, with fresh attacks and displacements recorded in 2026.”
He warned that the continued violence “undermines South Africa’s international reputation, erodes investor confidence, threatens regional integration, and diminishes the moral authority earned during its liberation struggle.”
To break the cycle, the Federal Government is urging South African authorities “to strengthen migration systems that are transparent and humane, and to ensure that the enforcement of immigration laws remains solely with the state.”
The Minister cautioned against vigilantism and called on political leaders “to guard their language, noting that rhetoric that paints migrants as ‘criminals’ or ‘job thieves’ fosters an environment where violence thrives.” He also advocated for “public discourse grounded in facts and data, rather than misinformation and social media rumors.”
Nigeria further called for the full activation of existing Nigeria–South Africa early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms “to detect and defuse tensions before they escalate.”
Beyond government action, Ambassador Enikanolaiye stressed the need to deepen people-to-people diplomacy by “mobilizing businesses, universities, religious and traditional institutions, youth groups, civil society and the media to rebuild trust and promote a shared African identity.”
The Minister announced that “Nigeria, together with Ghana, will be presenting the matter at the next Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.”
While acknowledging South Africa’s willingness to discuss “push and pull factors,” Nigeria insists that “priority attention must be given to the hate-driven violence and attacks causing anguish among African nationals.”
He emphasized that “what Africa needs now is not mere tolerance but belonging to a continent where a Nigerian in Johannesburg and a South African in Lagos are regarded first as Africans with equal dignity.”
Ambassador Enikanolaiye also reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad, “citing the President’s direct intervention in the recent repatriation of Nigerians from South Africa.” He commended the Heads of Mission in Pretoria and Johannesburg, and all stakeholders who ensured the exercise was carried out promptly.
The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government resolution “to work with South Africa, the AU, ECOWAS and other partners to ensure that African integration is matched by unity in practice.”
_Signed_
_Raphael Oni_
_SA, Digital Media and Public Diplomacy_
_Office of the Honourable Minister of State_
_Ministry of Foreign Affairs_