Nigeria will not abandon any of its citizens seeking to leave South Africa, the Foreign Ministry pledged on Thursday.
Amb. Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Foreign Affairs Minister, made this commitment through her spokesman Dr Magnus Eze in Abuja.
About 1,000 Nigerians have registered for evacuation so far. Anti-immigrant groups in South Africa set June 30 as a deadline.
A first batch of 258 nationals arrived back in Nigeria already. They touched down at Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on June 11.
Amb. Sola Enikanolaiye, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, received them.
President Bola Tinubu's administration made it clear: no Nigerian should suffer at the hands of xenophobes.
According to Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the President empathizes deeply with Nigerians facing discrimination abroad. He's directed all those in danger and willing to return to do so before the deadline passes.
Nigeria is pursuing this carefully, the minister noted. As a law-abiding nation, any retaliation against South Africa must follow proper legislative procedures.
Diplomatic channels remain open with South African authorities. Officials are engaging them at multiple levels to address the crisis.
"The National Assembly has a constitutional duty if diplomacy fails," Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated to reporters. Should attacks on Nigerians and their businesses continue, lawmakers must determine Nigeria's response.
The escalating xenophobic violence in South Africa has sparked concern in Nigeria. Citizens there have faced attacks on their businesses and persons in recent weeks.
President Tinubu's administration views protection of nationals abroad as a priority. Officials say evacuation efforts will continue until all willing Nigerians are safely back home.
