By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
VOLUNTARY EVACUATION flights have opened for Nigerians in South Africa as tensions escalate and anti foreigner protests spread across several cities.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that no fewer than 130 Nigerians have registered for voluntary evacuation flights from South Africa amid rising tensions.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu Ojukwu, said the ongoing anti foreigner campaign in the country may be more accurately described as “Afriphobia” than xenophobia.
The directives followed a phone conversation between Odumegwu Ojukwu and her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola, on Thursday amid worsening tensions in the southern African nation.
Nigerians in danger were advised to contact South African security authorities whenever dangerous situations arise.
“The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu, has directed that the Nigerian missions in South Africa set up, with immediate effect, a crisis notifications unit for imperilled citizens who have also been advised first and foremost to contact SA security authorities whenever dangerous situations arise,” the minister said in a statement on Thursday.
Odumegwu Ojukwu said Lamola expressed concern and misgivings over Nigeria’s evacuation plans during the call, but she maintained that the government could not stand by while its nationals were being harassed, humiliated, and killed extrajudicially.
“I maintained that our government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in SA as well as the extra judicial killings of our people, and that the evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remains our government’s priority at this time,” she said.
She also called for stronger action from South African authorities on reported cases involving Nigerians.
“I also highlighted the need for their police and justice systems to take the cases on ground of extra judicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa more seriously and that there should be clear and immediate consequences for such acts,” the minister said.
The Minister also raised concerns over anti-foreigner political rhetoric, warning that it placed lives and property at risk and could affect safety of South African interests in Nigeria.
“Our discussions also centred on the violent and indiscriminate rhetoric and actions of South Africa’s anti foreigner political parties which puts the lives and properties of Nigerian and other nationals at risk, but which conversely might also have the effect of jeopardising the safety of South African interests in Nigeria,” she said.
She disclosed that Nigerian children and those of mixed Nigerian and South African parentage, referred to as “Sougerians”, had been bullied in schools and told to return to their country.
“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory,” she said.
Lamola reportedly acknowledged South Africa’s responsibility to protect children and said education supervisory bodies were addressing the issue.
Odumegwu Ojukwu commended Nigerians in South Africa for their restraint during the unrest.
“Nigerians have exercised, and continue to demonstrate, commendable restraint in their response to the ongoing crisis,” she said.
She also questioned whether the campaign should be described as xenophobia, noting concerns that it appeared targeted at black Africans.
“What is worrisome to our citizens both in Nigeria and those resident in South Africa is that the demand that all foreigners leave South Africa appears to be targeted only towards black Africans, which makes one wonder whether what is happening should not be more accurately defined as ‘Afriphobia’ rather than xenophobia,” she said.
Both ministers agreed to continue cooperation to de escalate tensions.
Odumegwu Ojukwu noted condemnations issued by President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government, while expressing concern that hostility on the ground had not eased.
On Wednesday protests in Durban recorded no violence due to heavy security presence. Nigerians were advised to close shops and remain indoors.
Meanwhile, the FG had earlier summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele, in Abuja over the deaths of two Nigerians, Nnaemeka Matthew Andrew Ekpeyong and Kelvin Chidiebere Amaramiro, linked to alleged assaults by South African security personnel.
Violent anti-foreigner protests have been reported in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, East London, and parts of KwaZulu Natal involving groups including Operation Dudula and the March and March Movement.
Days ago, the House of Representatives condemned the attacks and recommended suspension of business permits for South African companies operating in Nigeria.
In the same vein, South Africa has recorded previous xenophobic outbreaks in 2008, 2015, and 2019, which have repeatedly strained diplomatic relations with Nigeria.
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