The Federal Government says it is set to evacuate Nigerians willing to return home from South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks in the country.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in a statement posted on her verified Facebook page on Thursday.

According to the minister, the decision followed a telephone conversation with her South African counterpart, Ronald Lamola.

She said Lamola expressed concern over the Nigerian government’s plan to evacuate citizens wishing to leave South Africa due to recent attacks targeting foreigners.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that Lamola also raised concerns about anti-foreigner sentiments and anti-migrant protests in South Africa, with the latest incident occurring in Durban on May 6.

“I maintained that government cannot stand by and watch the systematic harassment and humiliation of our nationals resident in South Africa,” she said.

“More so, the extrajudicial killings of our people, and that the evacuation of our citizens who want to return home remains our government’s priority at this time.

“I also highlighted the need for their police and justice systems to take cases involving the extrajudicial killings of Nigerians in South Africa more seriously, and that there should be clear and immediate consequences for such acts.”

According to the minister, Wednesday’s protests in Durban did not result in violence because of the heavy security presence.

However, Nigerians were advised by the Nigerian Mission in South Africa to close their shops and businesses and remain indoors.

She explained that discussions with South African authorities centred on violent rhetoric and actions by anti-foreigner political groups, which she said had endangered the lives and property of Nigerians and other foreign nationals.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu warned that such developments could also threaten South African interests in Nigeria.

She commended Nigerians in South Africa for exercising restraint in response to the tensions.

“Nigerian children and children born to both Nigerian and South African parents, referred to as ‘Sougerians’, are being wrongfully bullied in schools and taunted to return to their country,” she said.

“This is reprehensible and capable of causing trauma to young minds, for whom such incidents may remain etched in memory.”

She quoted Lamola as saying that South African authorities recognised their responsibility to protect affected children and were working through educational supervisory bodies to discourage such behaviour.

The minister also recalled previous condemnations by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over xenophobic attacks in the country.

“What is worrisome to Nigerians is the demand that all foreigners should leave South Africa,” she said.

“It appears to be targeted mainly at Black Africans, which raises questions about whether what is happening should more accurately be described as ‘Afriphobia’ rather than xenophobia.”

Odumegwu-Ojukwu added that President Bola Tinubu had directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to establish, with immediate effect, a crisis notification unit for distressed citizens.

She advised Nigerians facing danger to contact South African security authorities whenever necessary.