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Xenophobia: Buhari Orders Evacuation of Nigerians from South Africa
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President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday ordered the immediate evacuation of all Nigerians who are willing to return home from South Africa following the xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals.He gave the instruction when he received the report of the Special Envoy to South Africa, Ambassador Ahmed Abubakar, who is the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency (NIA), at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Buhari had in the wake of the xenophobic attacks by South Africans against foreigners, including Nigerians, sent the NIA boss as his special envoy to South Africa.A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report quoted a statement by the president’s spokesman, Mr. Femi Adesina, in Abuja yesterday, saying that the special envoy was in Pretoria from September 5 to September 7, 2019. He said that Abubakar conveyed Buhari’s special message to the South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The special envoy expressed deep concern of President Buhari and Nigerians about the intermittent violence against Nigerians and their property and business interests in South Africa. He said Buhari stressed the need for the South African government to take visible measures to stop violence against citizens of brotherly African nations.
In his official Twitter page yesterday, Buhari said: “I have received the report from the special envoy I sent to South Africa last week. We will continue to put pressure on the South African government to take concrete and visible measures to stop violence against citizens of other African nations.
“The recurring issue of xenophobia and attacks on African nationals remains very worrying. If nothing is done to stop it, it could negatively affect the image and standing of South Africa as one of the leading countries in Africa. It has to be stopped.“On our own part, let me reiterate that the Nigerian government will continue to do everything possible to ensure the safety of the lives, property and business interests of Nigerians in South Africa, and of South Africans in Nigeria.
“Let me also say that we have made arrangements for the immediate voluntary evacuation of all Nigerians in South Africa who are willing to return home. I have directed the relevant agencies to ensure this is done speedily and efficiently.”On his part, President Ramaphosa had agreed that the violence was most disconcerting and embarrassing. He was quoted as saying that his government completely rejected such acts, which undermine not only the country’s image but also its relations with brotherly African countries.
Ramaphosa promised to do everything possible to protect the rights of every Nigerian and other foreign nationals in the country.Adesina said that the special envoy also interfaced with his South African counterpart, where they reviewed the situation of foreign emigrants in general and Nigerians in particular. “They agreed to work together to find a permanent solution to the root causes of the recurring attacks on Nigerians and their property,” he said.
The Chairman, Nigerian Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa disclosed that 640 Nigerians in South Africa had registered to return home following the willingness of the Federal Government to evacuate them to safety.She made the disclosure yesterday while fielding questions from journalists after meeting with the Senate Committee on Diaspora and NGOs.
“As I speak with you now, we have 640 Nigerians voluntarily registering to come home, and they would be home in a couple of days. We believe that more will still be coming to register.”According to her, two planes have been secured for the evacuation of Nigerians. Those willing to return but are faced with the challenge of expired documents should not worry as the Federal Government has directed the Nigerian High Commission to provide them with documents that will make them to be air lifted back to Nigeria.
Dabiri-Erewa challenged the South African government to show more commitment to prosecuting the eight policemen connected to the killing of Nigerians in the wake of the xenophobic attacks about a year ago, and another four persons who have been arrested recently.
Meanwhile, a former Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, and leaders of the Nigerian community in Cape Town have met to proffer a solution to the recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa.The meeting held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Cape Town, South Africa, comprised Nigerian entrepreneurs, professionals and Mr. Cosmos Echie, the acting President of the Nigerian Community, Western Cape.
In a statement issued after the interactive meeting, the forum preferred to describe the attacks as Afrophobia.“It was unanimously agreed that the crisis is detrimental to the spirit of African renaissance, affirmation of black heritage, progress and development. Afrophobia compromises everything that the recently brokered intra-African trade – Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement — represents and aspires to deliver.”Ramaphosa was asked to apologise to Nigerians and other countries whose citizens were attacked, and the South African government should trigger a series of actions necessary to de-escalate the brewing conflict.
The Guardian
A former head coach of the Super Eagles, Austin Eguavoen, has been appointed to lead Nigeria’s Super Falcons on a temporary basis as the search for a permanent manager continues.
His immediate assignment is navigating the 2028 Olympic Games second-round qualifying tie against Comoros this October.
Eguavoen brings top-tier experience to the role, having previously guided the Super Eagles to a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.
Joining the interim technical crew is Nasarawa Amazons head coach Christopher Danjuma, who recently led the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.
Former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf – who earned 68 caps and featured at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – also joins as an assistant coach, alongside veteran goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa.
The 10-time African champions will kick off their campaign against Comoros, who advanced after a staggering 30-0 aggregate win over Sudan.
Both legs of the fixture will take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and 13, 2026.
To secure one of Africa’s two spots at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, Nigeria must navigate four two-legged knockout rounds.
Should they beat Comoros, the Super Falcons will move on to the third round in early 2027 to face either Morocco or the Democratic Republic of Congo. Subsequent rounds are set for late 2027, where potential clashes against sides like Cameroon, South Africa, or Zambia loom in the final stretch.
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa, has accused a former Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, of deliberately planning the killing of people in Southern Kaduna.
Musa made the allegation while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday.
The minister said El-Rufai’s administration created deep divisions in Kaduna State, alleging that the situation made it difficult for residents from Southern Kaduna to live freely in the northern part of the State and vice versa.
According to him, the administration of the current governor, Uba Sani, has made deliberate efforts to restore unity and rebuild trust among residents of the State.
“We know how it was when El-Rufai was there; it was toxic,” Musa said.
“El-Rufai did a lot of terrible things in Kaduna State. He divided the country, the State, into two. In that, if you are from the South, you cannot go to the North and live. Those ones from the North were moving to the South.
“Governor Sani within one year has been able to dissolve all that. You see, now everybody is free, everybody has a say. It’s not 100%. Let me tell you, it’s not 100%, but you can see that he’s making deliberate effort in uniting the state.”
Speaking on the feelings of people in Southern Kaduna towards the former governor, Musa said the people remained deeply pained over killings recorded in the area during El-Rufai’s tenure.
He alleged that El-Rufai deliberately planned the killing of people in the region.
“Well, I don’t know if unhappy is an issue. I think if there’s anything worse than unhappy, we can never be happy with somebody who has deliberately planned for the killing of our people,” Musa said.
“I mean, when you look at it, if you look at his videos, you know, his speeches, he was very proud of what he did.
“He told us he paid bandits. He told us he did this, he did that. He didn’t hide it. He was that arrogant to come out and tell people that this was what he did.”
The Defence Minister said residents of Southern Kaduna were still traumatised by the killings that occurred during the period, adding that the security situation in the area had improved under the current administration.
“The Southern Kaduna people are still very pained. Of course, definitely. I mean, if you look at the number of killings that was done there and what is going on now, you can’t compare at all,” he said.
Musa further accused El-Rufai of denying some people opportunities during his administration and alleged that the former governor’s policies affected even people from his own part of the state.
“I can tell you what he has done to people living in Kaduna from his own area. He did a lot of things that I’m sure even him is not proud of,” he added.
The minister, however, called on Nigerians to reject politicians who exploit religion, ethnicity and other differences to divide the country.
“We should get politicians that want to unite Nigeria. For me, any individual who is using either religion, tribe, creed, or anything to divide the state can never be a friend; can never be somebody we look up to,” Musa said.
“We shouldn’t have those kind of ones in government. Anybody who is using religion or tribe or whatever to divide Nigeria is an enemy of the State.”
President Bola Tinubu departed Abuja, the nation’s capital on Sunday for Europe to begin a three-week vacation as part of his annual leave.
Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, in a release disclosed that Tinubu’s first stop will be London, United Kingdom.
The President is expected to return home after the working vacation to join the hectic campaign for the January 2027 election.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier this month went on two-week leave, his first since the Tinubu government assumed office over three years ago. He has since returned.
