Envoy Assures Nigerians In South Africa Of FG’s Support Amid Xenophobic Threats

The Consul General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa, Amb. Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, has assured Nigerians in Southern Africa of the Federal Government’s concern for their welfare and safety amid passport challenges and threats of xenophobic attacks.

Okey-Uche gave the assurance in her goodwill message to Nigerians in South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, and other parts of the region on Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The envoy said the Consulate General was aware of concerns over passport services as well as difficulties faced by Nigerians amid xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks and threats.

“We are not sleeping over this matter. We are continuing to demand that the concerns before us receive the attention they deserve, and efforts are ongoing to push for urgent practical interventions,” she said.

According to Okey-Uche, every passport or safety concern affects a Nigerian with family, business, professional or personal responsibilities and therefore deserves serious and sustained attention.

“Fellow citizens, we hear you. The federal government hears you. Your Diplomatic Missions hear you, and there is genuine concern about the difficulties confronting our people,” she said.

She urged Nigerians in the region to remain hopeful and constructive, noting that difficult circumstances should not determine the future of a people.

The consul general also called on Nigerians living in South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho to be good ambassadors of the country by respecting the laws of their host countries and conducting themselves responsibly.

“As Nigerians living abroad, we also carry a very important responsibility. Wherever we live, we remain representatives of our great nation. Let us therefore hold our Nigerian identity with dignity, confidence and respect,” she added.

Okey-Uche described Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary as a significant milestone that should prompt citizens to reflect on the country’s history, appreciate the sacrifices of its founders and renew their confidence in the nation’s future.

She said independence was more than a date on the calendar, describing it as a reminder of Nigerians’ shared identity, heritage and responsibility to future generations.

The envoy said Nigeria remained a country of immense potential, human capacity, natural resources and resilience despite the challenges it had faced over the years.

She also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s leadership and the responsibility entrusted to his administration, saying the Federal Government was pursuing reforms aimed at strengthening the economy, expanding opportunities and laying the foundation for a more resilient nation.

Okey-Uche expressed hope that the reforms would translate into improved living conditions and greater opportunities for Nigerians.

“Our hope is not blind. It is founded on the enduring strength of the Nigerian people and our capacity to overcome difficult moments, such as is the case now in some hotspots of South Africa,” she said.

She expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to turn its challenges into opportunities and urged citizens to embrace hope, unity, responsibility and patriotism.

“Nigeria is rising. Nigeria remains a great country, with an even greater future,” she declared.

Meanwhile, the National Secretary of the Igbo Union South Africa, Ezeanozie Eleberi, called for greater national unity in his Independence Day message.

Eleberi said there was a need to strengthen national cohesion and address misconceptions about the political position of Nigerians of Igbo extraction in South Africa.

He said members of the Igbo community remained committed to Nigeria’s unity and development and to supporting efforts to build a more inclusive and prosperous country.

According to him, nation-building requires collaboration and constructive engagement, adding that no section of the country could achieve national leadership without cooperation across regions and interests.

He also urged Nigerians in the diaspora to remain law-abiding and project a positive image of the country in their host communities.