Act On Attacks Against Nigerians In South Africa, Center Tells Govt

President of Africa Development Study Centre, Sir Victor Walsh Oluwafemi, has said Nigeria must protect its citizens and reclaim its global respect.

He said the recent and recurring attacks on Nigerians in South Africa demand urgent and decisive action from the Nigerian government.

Oluwafemi disclosed this in a statement at the weekend.

He said, “The safety of Nigerian citizens abroad is not a diplomatic courtesy. It is a sovereign obligation. Nigeria currently has no substantive ambassador in South Africa. At a time when tensions and vulnerabilities persist, this absence creates a strategic gap.

“An ambassador is not deployed for ceremony alone. An ambassador represents national authority, deterrence, crisis engagement, and the structured defence of citizens. Strategic countries must never remain diplomatically underrepresented.

“The federal government should immediately deploy a substantive ambassador to South Africa and accelerate ambassadorial postings to other relevant high risk jurisdictions.”

Oluwafemi said diplomatic representation must serve not only protocol, but protection and national reputation management.

“In addition, the government of Nigeria should summon the South African High Commissioner in Abuja for formal engagement and clear assurances regarding the safety of Nigerian nationals.

“Incidents involving the killing or violent targeting of Nigerians abroad must trigger visible diplomatic action within 24 hours. Delayed responses weaken deterrence and embolden repetition.

“This issue extends beyond a single country. A troubling perception is emerging across parts of the continent that Nigeria can be treated with casual disregard.

“From regulatory hostility to public rhetoric and sporadic violence, the pattern must not be allowed to normalise. Nigeria is Africa’s largest population and one of its leading economies. Its citizens must never be treated as expendable.

“Reputation is national infrastructure. When Nigerians are attacked without consequence, it affects investor confidence, diaspora morale, bilateral negotiations, and continental leadership credibility.

“Protection of citizens must therefore be intentionally built into foreign policy architecture. Bilateral engagements must include enforceable commitments on citizen safety. Diplomatic performance must be measurable, accountable, and time bound.

“The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs should strengthen rapid response protocols, establish structured escalation mechanisms for diaspora incidents, and ensure that all missions in sensitive jurisdictions operate with clear protective mandates. Citizen protection must be institutionalised, not improvised.

“The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission should also intensify risk mapping, crisis reporting channels, and structured engagement with host authorities to ensure that Nigerians in vulnerable environments are not left without support.

“At the same time, as we demand protection and respect, Nigerians living abroad must continue to uphold the laws of their host countries and conduct themselves with integrity.

“National reputation is shaped not only by statecraft but by citizen behaviour. Nigerians abroad must serve as responsible ambassadors of our values, enterprise, and discipline.

“Nigeria must demand respect. Nigeria must model responsibility. The time for hesitation has passed.

” The protection of Nigerian lives and the preservation of Nigeria’s global standing require urgency, clarity, and decisive leadership,”he added.