Growing concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa have drawn a strong reaction from the Federal Government, with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission declaring that continued hostility against Nigerian migrants can no longer be ignored.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said the commission was deeply concerned about the recurring targeting of Nigerians in South Africa despite many having committed no offence.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Dabiri-Erewa said the Federal Government was unhappy with the situation and hinted that further actions regarding bilateral relations would be communicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency.
“Honestly, enough is enough. Enough really has to be enough, but whatever will be done, you’ll hear from the higher authorities,” she said.
The NIDCOM boss made the remarks while discussing the recent evacuation of 258 Nigerians from South Africa.
According to her, none of the returnees was involved in criminal activities, stressing that many were targeted simply because they were black immigrants.
“I tell you something about those 258 that came in. None of them committed any crime. The only crime they committed is the colour of their skin. They are black migrants in South Africa,” Dabiri-Erewa stated.
She commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for facilitating the safe return of the affected Nigerians and described the evacuation process as a successful multi-agency operation.
Dabiri-Erewa also acknowledged the support provided by MTN Nigeria, which reportedly gave each returnee ₦100,000 and additional airtime support to assist with their reintegration.
She further praised Hope Uzodinma for providing financial assistance to returnees from Imo State, urging other governors to adopt similar support measures.
According to her, the commission has consistently engaged Nigerian communities and stakeholders in South Africa through dialogue and people-to-people initiatives aimed at reducing tensions.
However, she argued that criminal actions by a few individuals should never be used to stigmatise an entire nationality.
“If one person commits a crime, get that person and deal with that person. You cannot generalise,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa also expressed concern that the problem extends beyond Nigerians, noting that migrants from other African countries have similarly faced hostility, while accusing South African authorities of not doing enough to address the situation.
The commission said its immediate focus remains on the reintegration of the evacuated Nigerians, while broader diplomatic and policy responses are expected from the relevant federal authorities.
