83 Nigerians Return from South Africa Amid Ongoing Xenophobia Concerns

Eighty-three Nigerians landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday. They arrived on a South African Airways flight from Johannesburg.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs shared this news in a statement from its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa. He mentioned that two officials from the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg accompanied the returnees.

Ebienfa explained that private individuals helped with flight tickets, making it possible for the Nigerians to return home safely. He added that upon arrival, Haruna Ali-Gombe, the director of the African Affairs Department, welcomed them on behalf of the federal government.

Ebienfa said, "They were handed over to relevant government agencies for necessary documentation and profiling ahead of their reunification with their families." He emphasized the federal government’s dedication to the welfare and safe return of all Nigerians abroad. He also thanked the Nigerian Mission in South Africa for their efforts.

The federal government is calling for immediate action to stop xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa. This was highlighted in a statement released on Wednesday by Raphael Oni, the Special Assistant on Digital Media and Public Diplomacy.

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, made this statement during a virtual roundtable discussion on “South Africa’s Xenophobia in Comparative Perspective.” He said that stronger migration governance, responsible leadership, and better connections between people are necessary to tackle this issue.

Enikanolaiye explained that Nigeria sees the Afrophobia challenge as something that must be dealt with honestly. He said the violence has a specific African history, calling it Afrophobia.

He criticized the fact that people from countries that supported South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle are now being treated as outsiders. Enikanolaiye also stated that the ministry has asked the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs to study Nigeria’s support for the anti-apartheid fight.

He said Nigeria spent over $60 billion, offered scholarships, and provided hospitality to South African leaders during that time. Enikanolaiye said, "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 expressed worry about the loss of lives, mentioning that since June 2022, at least 90 Nigerians have died due to Afrophobic violence. He noted there have been new attacks and displacements reported in 2026.

Enikanolaiye warned that ongoing violence could harm South Africa’s reputation, hurt investor confidence, threaten regional unity, and lessen the moral standing gained during its liberation struggle. He said, "To break the cycle, Nigeria is urging South African authorities to strengthen migration systems that are transparent and humane."

He called for careful language from political leaders, saying that messages painting migrants as criminals lead to violence. He stressed the need for discussion based on facts and data, not rumors.

“Nigeria calls for the full activation of existing Nigeria, South Africa early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms to detect and defuse tensions before they escalate,” he stated. He also reiterated the need for better people-to-people diplomacy.

He suggested that businesses, universities, religious groups, traditional institutions, youth organizations, civil society, and the media should work together to build trust and promote a shared African identity.

Enikanolaiye said Nigeria and Ghana would raise this issue at the next African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government. While he recognized South Africa’s willingness to discuss the situation, he insisted that Nigeria must focus on the violence causing distress for Africans.

“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,” he said.

He reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, mentioning Tinubu’s direct involvement in the recent repatriation from South Africa. He praised the heads of mission in Pretoria and Johannesburg for facilitating the process.

The minister assured that Nigeria is committed to collaborating with South Africa, the African Union, ECOWAS, and other partners to promote African unity.