Chairperson of NiDCOM Abike Dabiri-Erewa denounces alleged discrimination against Nigerians in South Africa as 258 evacuees return home.
The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has strongly condemned the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa, describing the experiences of recently evacuated citizens as “terrible, disappointing and painful.”
Speaking in a programme on Thursday, following the arrival of the first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa, Dabiri-Erewa said the returnees were victims of discrimination despite having committed no crime.
“Those 258 that came in, none of them committed any crime. The only crime they committed was the colour of their skin; they are black migrants in South Africa,” she said.
“If one person commits a crime, get that person and deal with that person. You cannot generalise, and their government is looking the other way, and that is the sad part.”
She maintained that those repatriated were unfairly targeted because of their identity and skin colour, rather than any wrongdoing.
Dabiri-Erewa said diplomatic engagements between Nigeria and South Africa were ongoing, adding that the Federal Government would determine its next steps regarding bilateral relations.
“What Nigeria will do in terms of bilateral relations, we will hear from the minister of foreign affairs and maybe even the president,” she said.
“But honestly, enough is enough; enough really has to be enough. Whatever will be done, we will hear from the higher authorities.”
The NiDCOM boss disclosed that additional groups of Nigerians are expected to return home in the coming days as evacuation efforts continue.
“Our diplomatic engagement is still going on. Diplomacy is always about having a conversation,” she said.
“The minister of foreign affairs is still engaging her counterparts, and I’m sure the two presidents will be talking more about this.
“We are glad this first batch is home, and we are going to have, I think, three to five batches.”
The first group of evacuees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Wednesday.
Several returnees recounted experiences of discrimination, segregation and degrading treatment during their stay in South Africa.
One of the evacuees alleged that migrants were treated “like slaves,” claiming that migrant families were isolated and their children separated from others.
The development has renewed concerns about xenophobia in South Africa, where foreign nationals from African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, have repeatedly been targets of anti-immigrant hostility.
South Africa has witnessed several waves of xenophobic violence since 2008, driven by accusations that migrants are responsibleadline and 18 word excerpt for crime, unemployment and pressure on public services.
The attacks have resulted in deaths, injuries, displacement and the destruction of businesses owned by foreign nationals.
Nigeria has consistently condemned such attacks and has continued to engage South African authorities through diplomatic channels while calling for stronger measures to protect African migrants living in the country.