The Federal Government is considering retaliatory measures against South Africa over the alleged harassment and attacks on Nigerians living in the country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this while speaking with State House correspondents on Monday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, saying the option of retaliation had not been ruled out.
“That is a situation that we are considering… but it’s not off the table,” she said.
The minister said Nigeria was unhappy with the treatment meted out to its citizens despite the country’s contributions to South Africa’s struggle against apartheid.
According to her, Nigeria committed funds and resources to support the liberation struggle and reserved spaces in schools for South African students.
She noted that many Nigerians felt disappointed by what she described as South Africa’s failure to firmly condemn the attacks.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also rejected claims by some South African authorities that Nigerians seeking evacuation were illegal migrants.
“That is absolutely untrue,” she said.
She alleged that Nigerian-owned businesses had been looted and set ablaze, while children were being intimidated in schools, insisting that many of those affected were engaged in legitimate businesses.
The minister further claimed that black migrants were being singled out in the campaign against foreigners.
“They are not asking other migrants to leave; they are only asking black migrants to leave,” she said.
On the evacuation exercise, Odumegwu-Ojukwu clarified that there was no delay, explaining that what had been expected was the completion of the necessary formalities.
She said the repatriation process remained on course and disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed that his aircraft be deployed to bring distressed Nigerians home.
“The repatriation is on course,” she said.
According to her, a crisis response unit had been established at the Nigerian Consulate and the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria to coordinate the exercise.
She explained that Nigerian authorities were working with South African officials to screen prospective returnees and issue them the necessary clearance documents.
The minister said the number of Nigerians indicating interest in returning home was increasing, with some requiring assistance to reach the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg.
She added that the Federal Government, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other agencies, was putting arrangements in place to rehabilitate the returnees once they arrive in the country.
