Xenophobia: Nigerians slam FG’s ‘weak’ response, hail Ghana’s action

Another wave of xenophobic attacks in South Africa has triggered outrage among Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, with many criticising the Federal Government’s response as weak and ineffective compared to Ghana’s swift diplomatic intervention to protect its citizens.

Findings by Sunday PUNCH revealed that the backlash followed an advisory issued on Friday by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, urging Nigerians living in South Africa to remain indoors, avoid protests, and temporarily shut down businesses in anticipation of further violence.

The warning followed an official circular from the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg (Ref No: CGJHB/AD/209/VOL I), dated April 22, 2026, which reported that demonstrations in East London, Cape Town, Durban and parts of KwaZulu-Natal had turned violent, resulting in looting, property damage and injuries.

In a statement by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, NiDCOM disclosed that intelligence from the consulate indicated further protests were planned in Gauteng Province between April 27 and 29, 2026.

The demonstrations are to pressure the South African government over the presence of foreign nationals.

While NiDCOM described the advisory as a precautionary measure, many Nigerians said it reflected a troubling pattern of  “passive diplomacy” in the face of repeated attacks.

Outrage over ‘stay indoors’ directive

Several Nigerians in South Africa, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, expressed frustration and argued that the government’s response placed the burden of survival on victims rather than confronting perpetrators.

A Nigerian resident, who simply identified himself as Augustine, said the situation had persisted for years without meaningful intervention.

He said, “Nigerians in South Africa have been serially attacked. Now it has extended to Ghanaians. But look at the difference in response. Ghana acted immediately. Their government demanded answers. Ours is telling us to stay indoors.”

On X, similar sentiments trailed the advisory, with many users accusing the government of indifference.

“It is no longer about documents. It is now ‘leave our country,’” a user, Chude, wrote.

Another user, Kasy, added, “Our government has failed us. Just imagine if these attacks were against citizens of powerful countries.”

Other users lamented what they described as the absence of strong presidential intervention.

They warned that continued silence could embolden further attacks.

“We have a good number of Nigerians in South Africa who are going through these xenophobic attacks. Our government has failed us in Nigeria. Just imagine if these attacks were against American citizens.

“This government will do nothing to rescue its citizens; they are after the next election. We will always cry here for nothing.”

Ghana’s response

The criticism of Nigeria’s response intensified following Ghana’s handling of a recent xenophobic incident involving one of its citizens.

Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Ablakwa, announced that the government would relocate the victim, Emmanuel Asamoa, at full cost after he faced threats and harassment.

The Ghanaian government also engaged South African authorities directly, leading to official apologies and diplomatic meetings.

Ablakwa stressed that the victim was a law-abiding resident and demanded accountability for the attack.

“We are demanding swift investigations and sanctions to serve as a deterrent,” he said.

Experts fault Nigeria’s ‘nonchalant posture’

Foreign policy experts and civil society actors, who spoke to Sunday PUNCH, described Nigeria’s handling of xenophobic attacks as reactive and lacking strategic depth.

A security analyst, Sadiq Lawal, said Nigeria’s approach had failed to deter recurring violence.

He said, “What we are seeing is a pattern. Nigerians are attacked, statements are issued, and then nothing happens. There is no follow-through, no consequences, and that sends the wrong signal.”

Lawal argued that Nigeria must adopt a reciprocity-based diplomatic strategy.

“When other countries know that there will be consequences, diplomatic, economic or otherwise, they will take the protection of Nigerian citizens more seriously,” he added.

Similarly, a public affairs analyst, Dr Amina Yusuf, said Nigeria’s global standing had weakened due to inconsistent foreign policy responses.

“Nigeria used to be a dominant voice in Africa. Today, smaller countries are taking firmer positions on issues affecting their citizens abroad. That tells you something has changed,” she said.

She noted that Ghana’s response underscores the importance of political will.

“It is not about capacity; it is about priority. When a government prioritises its citizens, it acts decisively,” she added.

She warned that repeated attacks and perceived weak responses were eroding Nigeria’s influence on the continent.

Yusuf said the country risked losing its leadership role if it failed to assert itself diplomatically.

“When your citizens are consistently targeted and your response is limited to advisories, it diminishes your credibility. Other nations begin to see you as unable or unwilling to protect your own,” she said.

A Lagos-based geopolitical analyst, Kunle Adebisi, echoed similar concerns.

“Nigeria’s image has taken a hit. The country needs to rebuild its reputation through strong diplomatic engagement, clear policy direction, and visible action,” he said.

He added that beyond rhetoric, Nigeria must institutionalise mechanisms for rapid response to diaspora crises.

Political undertones behind attacks

Meanwhile, emerging insights suggest that election-related tensions in South Africa may be fuelling anti-foreigner sentiments.

The President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora, South Africa, Olusola Agbeniyi, said political actors often exploited economic concerns, particularly unemployment, to incite hostility against migrants.

“It is not that South Africa has a problem with Nigeria. Some political groups use the issue of unemployment to mobilise support by blaming foreigners,” he said.

Agbeniyi noted that such protests often began as peaceful demonstrations but were later hijacked by criminal elements.

“When elections are approaching, these things intensify. It becomes a tool for political advantage,” he added.

South Africa is expected to hold its next elections in November 2026.

Nigerians are now urging the Federal Government to rethink its approach, moving beyond advisories to more assertive diplomatic engagement.

They called for stronger bilateral discussions, clear demands for accountability, and protection frameworks for Nigerians abroad.

“There must be consequences for these attacks. Until then, they will continue,” Lawal said.

As tensions persist, many Nigerians in South Africa say they remain uncertain about their safety, hoping for a response that goes beyond warnings to decisive action.

All efforts to reach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, proved abortive, as he neither answered calls nor responded to messages sent to his WhatsApp line.