The Federal Government has begun arrangements to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following renewed anti-foreigner protests and rising tensions in parts of the country, particularly Durban.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this after a telephone conversation with South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, amid growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in the country.

According to the minister, although South African authorities expressed reservations about Nigeria’s evacuation plan, the Federal Government could no longer ignore what she described as the systematic harassment, humiliation, and alleged extra-judicial killings of Nigerians abroad.

“Our government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa, as well as the extra-judicial killings of our people. The evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remains our government’s priority at this time,” she said.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu urged South African authorities to treat reported attacks on Nigerians with greater urgency and ensure those responsible are held accountable.

She revealed that although a protest held in Durban on Wednesday did not turn violent due to heavy security deployment, Nigerians in the area were advised by the Nigerian mission to shut their businesses and remain indoors for safety.

The minister also raised alarm over what she described as inflammatory rhetoric and hostile actions by anti-foreigner groups, warning that the development poses serious risks to Nigerians and other African migrants.

She disclosed that Nigerian families had also reported cases of bullying involving Nigerian children and children of mixed Nigerian-South African heritage, popularly referred to as “Sougerians.”

According to her, some of the children were allegedly mocked in schools and told to “return to their country,” a situation she described as disturbing and emotionally damaging.

Lamola, she said, assured Nigeria that South African authorities were engaging education agencies and other relevant institutions to address the concerns.

Questioning the continued use of the term xenophobia to describe the attacks, Odumegwu-Ojukwu suggested the incidents may be more accurately described as “Afrophobia.”

“The demand that all foreigners leave South Africa appears to be targeted only at black Africans, which makes one wonder whether what is happening should not be more accurately defined as ‘Afrophobia’ rather than xenophobia,” she stated.

She added that President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to immediately establish crisis notification centres to assist Nigerians facing threats or intimidation.

As tensions rise, calls have emerged in Nigeria for stronger retaliation, including sanctions against South African companies operating in the country. Senator Adams Oshiomhole recently suggested revoking the licences of firms such as MTN Nigeria and MultiChoice, while student groups have threatened protests.

However, economic experts have warned against blanket sanctions, saying such measures could hurt Nigeria more than South Africa.

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) also defended the government’s diplomatic approach, insisting sustained engagement remains the best path to resolving the crisis.