Nigeria’s government has called for calm amid rising tensions between Nigerian and South African nationals, urging citizens not to resort to reprisal attacks after a series of violent incidents in South Africa. The appeal comes as the UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for British nationals in both countries, citing the potential for unrest.
The Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on Thursday condemning the attacks on Nigerian businesses and citizens in South Africa, but stressed that retaliation would only worsen the situation. “We urge all Nigerians to remain law-abiding and refrain from any acts of reprisal,” the statement read. “The Nigerian government is engaging with South African authorities to ensure the safety of our citizens and their property.”
The warning follows days of violence in South Africa, where shops and homes owned by foreign nationals, including Nigerians, were looted and destroyed in parts of Johannesburg and Pretoria. At least five people have been killed and dozens arrested as police struggle to contain the unrest. Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched a special envoy to South Africa to discuss the crisis.
The UK Foreign Office, meanwhile, updated its travel advice for South Africa on Wednesday, warning of “an increased risk of xenophobic attacks” and advising British nationals to avoid the affected areas. The advisory also noted the potential for protests in Nigeria, though no specific threats to UK citizens were mentioned. “British nationals should exercise caution and monitor local media,” the advisory stated.
The tensions have sparked a war of words on social media, with some Nigerians calling for boycotts of South African companies operating in Nigeria, such as MTN and Shoprite. However, the Nigerian government has advised against such actions, warning they could harm the region’s economy. “Let us not make decisions that will hurt our own people,” the foreign ministry said.
The UK travel advisory highlights the broader concerns for foreign nationals in South Africa, where xenophobic violence has flared periodically since 2008. The latest unrest has been blamed on high unemployment and competition for jobs, a reality that hits the kitchen table hard for many South Africans. For Nigerian traders, the impact is devastating: many have lost livelihoods built over years of hard work.
As the situation remains fluid, both governments are urging restraint. But for now, the price of bread in Lagos and Johannesburg is rising, and the spectre of further violence looms.
