The Initiative for Youth Awareness on Migration, Immigration, Development and Reintegration (IYAMIDR) Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to adopt a stronger, structured bilateral response to rising attacks on Nigerians and their businesses in South Africa.
In a statement issued on Sunday, May 3, 2026, and signed by its Executive Director, Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, the organisation expressed concern over Press Release No: MFA/PR/2026/057 from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which confirmed the summon of the Acting High Commissioner of South Africa over ongoing protests and reported attacks.
While commending the Federal Government’s swift diplomatic intervention, IYAMIDR stressed that Nigeria must go beyond diplomatic summons and establish a measurable action plan to protect its citizens abroad and address recurring xenophobic tensions.
The group raised concerns over what it described as credible reports of physical attacks, looting of Nigerian-owned businesses, and targeted harassment, warning that such incidents pose a serious threat to the right to life and security of affected nationals.
It also highlighted the historical ties between Nigeria and South Africa, noting that both countries share a legacy rooted in the anti-apartheid struggle. According to the organisation, failure to institutionalise protection mechanisms risks undermining this relationship and weakening Africa’s integration efforts.
On economic implications, IYAMIDR warned that the destruction of Nigerian-owned businesses could worsen poverty, fuel irregular migration, and deepen social tensions in affected communities.
The organisation proposed a six-point bilateral framework ahead of a scheduled May 4, 2026 meeting between both countries. These include the establishment of a Joint Early Warning and Rapid Response Unit, a Victim Compensation and Restitution Fund, integration of Nigerian community leaders into local policing structures, and the creation of a Legal Aid and Prosecution Task Force.
Other recommendations include a Bi-National Youth Integration Programme aimed at tackling misinformation and xenophobia, as well as a Quarterly Ministerial Review Mechanism on diaspora safety with public reporting.
IYAMIDR also issued an advisory to Nigerians in South Africa, urging them to register with the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria or the Consulate in Johannesburg, avoid high-risk protest areas, and document all incidents for legal and compensation purposes. Emergency contact support was also provided through official diplomatic channels and the organisation’s email.
The group further announced plans to convene a Diaspora Safety Virtual Town Hall on May 8, 2026, to gather testimonies and provide psychosocial support to affected citizens.
IYAMIDR concluded by calling for a shift from reactive diplomacy to preventive diplomacy, insisting that the protection of Nigerians abroad must be treated as a national priority.
“Nigeria must move from reactive diplomacy to preventive diplomacy. The lives of our citizens are not bargaining chips,” the statement read.
IYAMIDR Calls for Urgent Bilateral Action Over Attacks on Nigerians in South Africa
