Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu has slammed the wave of xenophobic violence targeting Nigerians in South Africa. She says anti-migrant vigilante groups have betrayed Nelson Mandela's legacy.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu expressed deep concern about how Nigerians are treated there. She contrasted this with the welcome South African companies receive in Nigeria.
Over 120 South African firms operate freely across Nigeria right now. "Nobody asks if their staff are South African or Nigerian," she noted.
"Nobody seizes their shops or takes over their businesses."
Major South African brands thrive in Nigeria without facing any discrimination. MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic IBTC, and Protea Hotels all operate without restrictions.
The minister called the attacks deeply troubling given Mandela's sacrifice. "In one fell swoop, anti-migrant vigilante groups have destroyed what he sacrificed 28 years in prison for," she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that South Africa's reputation has suffered severe damage. The country now carries the stigma of xenophobia on the global stage.
She pointed out that Pan-Africanism and continental unity have been undermined. "South Africa has been stained.
This is not something they'll be comfortable with long-term," she stated.
Concert cancellations and conference postponements have already hit South Africa. Growing international criticism and security concerns drove these decisions.
According to her, the South African government has failed to protect African migrants adequately. Diplomatic relations between the nations have suffered as a result.
Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique are also evacuating their citizens. The crisis has prompted action across the continent.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu revealed shocking news about a bilateral agreement. South African authorities rejected a memorandum signed with Nigeria in October 2025.
That pact was designed as an early warning system to prevent conflicts. It aimed to protect citizens of both nations during crises like this one.
"They claimed the signatories weren't authorized to sign it," she explained. South Africa demanded additional diplomatic procedures and formalities before acceptance.
The minister stressed that stronger bilateral cooperation is still needed. Both countries must work harder to address future emergencies together.
