The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on South Africa to take decisive action to stem xenophobic and Afrophobic violence targeting African nationals, warning that ongoing attacks undermine regional integration and diminish South Africa’s moral standing.
Speaking on Tuesday during a virtual roundtable hosted by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sola Enikanolaiye stressed that the hostility must be confronted honestly. In a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Digital Media and Public Diplomacy, Raphael Oni, the minister noted that the term Afrophobia better reflects the nature of the assaults, which carry a distinctly post-colonial and post-apartheid character.
Enikanolaiye expressed deep concern over the paradox of citizens from nations that financed and championed South Africa’s liberation struggle now being treated as unwanted outsiders. He revealed that Nigeria contributed over $60 billion to the anti-apartheid movement, alongside nationalising British Petroleum, providing university scholarships, and harboring South African leaders. To preserve this historical record, the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commissioned the NIIA to publish a comprehensive study documenting Nigeria’s historical sacrifices.
Highlighting the human toll, the minister disclosed that approximately 90 Nigerians have lost their lives to Afrophobic violence since June 2022, with fresh incidents and forced displacements recorded in 2026.
To prevent further bloodshed, Enikanolaiye urged South African authorities to establish humane and transparent migration systems. He stated that immigration enforcement must remain exclusively within the purview of state security. He cautioned political figures against inflammatory rhetoric, such as labelling migrants “job thieves” or “criminals,” which fuels vigilantism and creates a climate ripe for violence.
Furthermore, the minister advocated for data-driven public discourse over social media rumors, alongside the full operationalisation of the Nigeria-South Africa early-warning and rapid-response mechanisms to defuse communal friction before it escalates. Beyond state diplomacy, he called for active engagement across universities, civil society, religious institutions, businesses, and youth groups to foster shared African solidarity.
Enikanolaiye confirmed that Nigeria, in partnership with Ghana, will formally raise the issue at the upcoming African Union Assembly of Heads of State and Government. While affirming South Africa’s willingness to discuss migration factors, he emphasized that stopping hate-driven violence must take precedence.