The Federal Government has indicated that it may seek the intervention of the African Union over recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, describing the situation as a growing continental concern that requires a broader response.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed the government’s position during an appearance on Prime Time, an Arise TV programme on Thursday.
Enikanolaiye expressed concern that repeated attacks on foreign nationals were undermining the ideals of African unity and solidarity.
According to the minister, Nigeria would continue to engage South African authorities at various levels to ensure the safety of its citizens living in the country.
He said, “When you have thug leaders literally encouraging violence against other nationalities, that is totally unacceptable. We will be reminding them of their responsibility in this regard.
“We are going to do this at all levels of government, at our own level, at our level of officials, at the level of even Mr President, to be sure that Nigerians are not subjected to this kind of harassment going forward.
“We have also indicated that going forward to prevent this, we may have to escalate it to the African Union and get a more continental response to this, which is becoming an African challenge.”
Enikanolaiye maintained that African countries must collectively take responsibility for protecting residents regardless of nationality, stressing that attacks targeting fellow Africans threaten the spirit of regional cooperation and integration.
The development comes as the first batch of 268 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks arrived in Lagos on Thursday aboard an Air Peace flight.
The evacuation, part of the Federal Government’s repatriation efforts, comes amid growing safety concerns for Nigerians in South Africa, with over 1,000 citizens reportedly seeking to return home and more flights expected in the coming days.
Gift Habib is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over five years of experience reporting on foreign affairs, elections, security, and related issues. She specializes in covering complex political and security developments, providing context and clarity for readers. Her work reflects extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accurate, insightful, and trustworthy journalism.
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