Xenophobia: No Nigerian willing to leave South Africa will be abandoned – FG

The Federal Government says it will ensure that no Nigerian who has indicated interest in leaving South Africa is left behind. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the promise in a statement issued by Dr Magnus Eze, her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, on Thursday, in Abuja. Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that about […]

The Federal Government says it will ensure that no Nigerian who has indicated interest in leaving South Africa is left behind.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made the promise in a statement issued by Dr Magnus Eze, her Special Assistant on Communication and New Media, on Thursday, in Abuja.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that about 1,000 Nigerians had so far registered for evacuation from South Africa ahead of the June 30, deadline given by anti-immigrant groups in the country.
According to her, the first batch of 258 Nigerian nationals has been transported back from South Africa to Nigeria by the Federal Government.
They were received in Nigeria by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday, June 11.
The minister emphasised that the policy of the Renewed Hope Administration of President Bola Tinubu was that no Nigerian should be left to suffer unnecessarily at the hands of misguided individuals.
She added that the President empathised with Nigerians exposed to discriminatory treatment across the world.
The minister said the president had also directed that those facing danger in South Africa, and who had voluntarily indicated willingness to return home must leave before the deadline.
She explained that as a law-abiding nation, any retaliatory measures against South Africa’s anti-migrant actions would have to follow due legislative process.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that the executive arm was actively engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels and broader actions.
“The National Assembly has a constitutional role to play in determining Nigeria’s response should diplomatic engagements fail to halt the attacks on Nigerians and their businesses,” she said.