The Nigerian government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has strongly condemned the ongoing hostility directed at its citizens residing in South Africa. Speaking on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ the Chairperson and CEO of NIDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, expressed the government’s frustration with the repeated attacks.
Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that the federal government is at a breaking point, declaring that ‘enough is enough.’ She stressed that while the commission has been actively engaging in people-to-people diplomacy and has frequently visited South Africa to address the issue, the attacks have persisted. She clarified that none of the Nigerians who have been evacuated had committed any crimes in South Africa, underscoring that the violence is unwarranted and indiscriminate.
According to Dabiri-Erewa, if an individual commits an offense, that person should be held accountable individually, not the entire Nigerian community. She pointed out that while other nationalities also face similar challenges, the high number of Nigerians affected indicates a deeper problem. She accused the South African government of turning a blind eye to these incidents. Dabiri-Erewa concluded by stating that any decisions regarding bilateral relations will be communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the presidency.