President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigerian missions in South Africa to immediately establish a crisis notification unit to assist Nigerians facing threats amid rising xenophobic tensions and anti-migrant protests in the country.

The development followed renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians living in South Africa after recent anti-foreigner demonstrations, including protests held in Durban on Wednesday.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed the President’s directive on Thursday in a post after a telephone conversation with South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ronald Lamola.

According to her, “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has directed that the Nigerian Missions in South Africa set up, with immediate effect, a crisis notifications unit for imperilled citizens who have also been advised first and foremost to contact SA security authorities whenever dangerous situations arise.”

Mrs. Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Lamola had expressed concern over Nigeria’s plans to evacuate citizens willing to leave South Africa due to the growing anti-foreigner sentiments and attacks targeting migrants.

“This morning, I had a phone conversation with Hon Ronald Lamola, South Africa’s Foreign Affairs Minister, who expressed concern and misgivings concerning the plans by the government of Nigeria to evacuate its citizens desirous of leaving the Republic of South Africa due to the recent xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments openly expressed during continuing anti-migrant protests in South Africa,” she stated.

The minister stressed that the Nigerian government would not ignore the reported harassment and killings of its citizens in South Africa.