The Federal Government says any retaliatory action Nigeria may consider against South Africa over continued attacks and harassment of Nigerians and other African migrants falls within the constitutional oversight of the National Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, made this known during an interview on TVC, while noting that the executive arm of government is currently pursuing diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to address the situation.
According to her, Nigeria has so far exercised restraint despite rising concerns over the treatment of its citizens abroad, but warned that continued abuse of migrants could force a reassessment of available options.
“The lawmakers have a role to play in this,” she said, adding that any further steps would be guided by constitutional processes and national interest.
She expressed concern over reports that Nigerians living in South Africa—including long-term residents married to South African nationals—are being targeted and pressured to leave the country.
“But when your citizens are being harassed, when your citizens are people who have spent years there… then it becomes a serious concern,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu also contrasted the situation with the presence of South African companies operating freely in Nigeria, including MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic IBTC, and Protea, noting that Nigerian authorities have not subjected them to similar treatment.
“There are over 120 South African companies operating in Nigeria. Nobody is asking them to provide proof of identity… But this is happening to Nigerians in South Africa,” she said.
She warned that the continued attacks are damaging South Africa’s international reputation, recalling the legacy of former President Nelson Mandela and his efforts to promote Pan-African unity.
“It is causing reputational damage… These anti-migrant vigilante groups have destroyed what this man sacrificed 28 years in prison for,” she said.
The minister also noted that the unrest is already affecting South Africa’s global image, with reports of event cancellations and growing concerns about xenophobia.
According to her, migrants from several African countries—including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and Zimbabwe—have been affected by recent waves of violence, with some cases involving killings, looting, and forced displacement.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu further disclosed that 98 Nigerians currently serving jail terms in Ethiopia are expected to be repatriated under a bilateral agreement between both countries, stressing that arrangements are underway for their return to complete their sentences in Nigeria.
“Criminality has no ethnicity or tribe,” she said, noting that the inmates come from different regions of the country.
She reaffirmed that Nigeria remains committed to protecting its citizens abroad while pursuing peaceful and lawful diplomatic solutions to emerging international tensions.