Nigeria brings home 1,490 citizens from South Africa after xenophobic attacks

Nigeria has completed the voluntary evacuation of ​1,490 citizens from South Africa ‌following a series of xenophobic attacks, its foreign ministry said on Thursday, ​with the latest flight bringing ​305 returnees home from Johannesburg.

Foreign ministry ⁠spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa said a ​fifth evacuation flight carrying 305 ​returnees and two government officials arrived in Lagos on July 15.

The government said the ​evacuation followed talks with South ​African authorities over security concerns linked to ‌xenophobic ⁠attacks on foreign nationals, including Nigerians.

Nigeria has condemned violence against its citizens in South Africa, including ​the deaths ​of at ⁠least two nationals allegedly assaulted by security officials.

Despite ​strong bilateral ties with South ​Africa, ⁠Nigeria's position remains clear: xenophobia, racial intolerance and violence against its ⁠citizens ​are unacceptable, Kimiebi ​said.

By Tife Owolabi, Reuters

Nigeria suspends third-party services for visa applicants in the US

Residents of the US seeking Nigerian visas will now have to submit their applications directly to the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington, DC, or the Consulates in New York and Atlanta, following the suspension of Online Integrated Solutions (OIS Services) services.

The OIS, which operates Nigeria’s Visa Application Centres, has been suspended from offering the service.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the National Immigration Service (NIS) announced that the suspension of the OIS is effective from July 2026.

“Effective from July, 2026, the service of Online Integrated Solution (O15 SERVICES), the operator of Nigeria’s Visa Application Centres in the United States of America, has been suspended until further notice,” the statement reads.

The NIS did not state the reason for the suspension of OIS Services or indicate when the arrangement would be reviewed.

However, the new policy was introduced several months after the US imposed partial visa ban on Nigeria and many other African countries. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the ban on Nigeria covered a wide range of visa categories, including B‑1, B‑2, B‑1/B‑2, F, M, and J visas.

The US also imposed bond requirements on African countries, requiring applicants to post a bond of up to $15,000 before applying for other categories of visas.

In its statement, the NIS also clarified that the suspension affects only visa application submissions handled by OIS Services and does not impact Nigeria’s electronic visa (e-Visa) system.

It explained that travellers seeking e-Visas are still expected to submit their applications through the official e-Visa portal.

The agency also noted that it has put measures in place to ensure the seamless submission, processing and issuance of visas despite the suspension of the visa application centre operator.

“The Service further clarifies that this notice applies only to Visa application submissions at the Embassy and does not affect the e-Visa System. Applicants can continue to apply via

“The public should note that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure seamless submission, processing, and issuance of visas.

“In this regard, applicants are advised to monitor the official communication channels of the Nigeria Immigration Service and the Nigerian Mission in the United States for updates on visa application procedures,” the statement further noted.

The NIS also advised applicants to monitor official communication channels of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in the US.

It reiterated that it remained “committed to providing efficient Service Delivery.”

By Beloved John, Premium Times

South African Police Say Death of Nigerian Man Not Linked to Anti-Migrant Violence

South African police ⁠said ⁠on Tuesday the ⁠death of a Nigerian man in custody late ​last month had nothing to do with a surge in anti-migrant ‌violence and that he ‌collapsed after being arrested for drug possession.

Nigeria's foreign ministry ⁠alleged ⁠on Sunday the man had died during an interrogation ​by South African police two days before nationwide rallies against undocumented migrants, threatening unspecified action if there were more attacks on its ​citizens.

"The South African Police Service strongly rejects attempts to ⁠link this ⁠incident to anti-illegal immigrant ⁠protests," ​a police spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson said a police ​drugs team had ⁠arrested the Nigerian at his apartment in an intelligence-driven operation. Drugs were found at the scene, and the man collapsed while being taken into custody in a Pretoria police ⁠station, the spokesperson added.

Paramedics were called and declared him dead, ⁠and a police watchdog was notified and will investigate the incident, the spokesperson said.

South Africa's foreign ministry has said Nigeria's government should send in any evidence it has about the man's death but has not commented on the specific allegations made by its Nigerian counterpart.

The anti-migrant protests over the past few months have ⁠been mostly peaceful but at times turned violent, with attacks on foreign nationals and looting of foreign-owned shops.

Rights groups say foreigners are being used as scapegoats for ​deep-rooted problems like crime and unemployment.

By Alexander ​Winning, Reuters

Related stories: Nigeria sees no sign that anti-immigrant violence is waning in South Africa

Nigeria says two nationals killed in South Africa amid rise of anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria sees no sign that anti-immigrant violence is waning in South Africa

The safety of African immigrants in South Africa is deteriorating, Nigeria’s foreign minister has warned, after two Nigerians were killed in disputed circumstances during anti-immigrant protests.

“There are no signs that the situation is improving,” Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said on Monday, while announcing more evacuation flights.

The minister demanded South African authorities investigate the deaths of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, killed amid “the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants”.

South African police said Joe’s killing did not appear to be related to the protests, but could not immediately comment on Iroegbu’s death.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry says Joe was killed in front of his shop in the northeastern city of ⁠⁠eMalahleni by unidentified criminals on June 28 , while Iroegbu was killed by South African police during interrogation in Pretoria on the same day.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said: “We wish to place the Government of South Africa on ‌‌notice that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table, some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance… against foreigners is not addressed”.

South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said the government had asked Nigeria’s High Commission to submit “any actionable information to our law enforcement authorities, which will enable a thorough, objective investigation in accordance with the rule of law”.

Weeks of anti-immigrant marches

There have been weeks of protests against undocumented migrants, with many South Africans blaming workers from other African countries for taking their jobs and putting a strain on their social services.

South Africa’s government has been accused of not doing enough to crack down on the violence, which has claimed the lives of several foreigners and seen shops owned by immigrants looted and torched.

Mozambique said that five of its citizens were killed in xenophobic attacks in late May. South Africa ⁠⁠said the number was only two.

Ghana and South Africa were embroiled in a diplomatic row last week, following the killing of a Ghanaian national. The South African government said the death of Bashiru Isak was not linked to anti-immigrant protests.

Hundreds of Nigerians, among tens of thousands of foreigners, have already left South Africa, once a popular destination for documented and undocumented African immigrants due to its relatively strong economy.

Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria announced on Monday that a fourth group of Ugandan nationals were voluntarily repatriating.

South Africa has had a longstanding violent crime problem that precedes the outbreak of xenophobic violence.

By AFP and Reuters

Related story: Nigeria says two nationals killed in South Africa amid rise of anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria says two nationals killed in South Africa amid rise of anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria says two of its citizens have been killed in South Africa "at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted" there.

A statement from the foreign ministry said Emeka Charles Iroegbu was "reportedly killed" on 28 June by police officers "using gruesome interrogation techniques", while unidentified assailants had killed shop owner Musa Yunana Joe on the same day.

The authorities in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, say they are investigating.

Nigeria's foreign ministry said the incidents came amid a rise in anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa, which has led to roughly 25,000 citizens from other African countries being repatriated by their nations, including some 700 Nigerians.

Protesters in South Africa have urged the government to do more to curb illegal migration. They say foreigners are taking jobs and unfairly benefiting from public services.

In its statement, Nigeria's foreign ministry said Iroegbu was reportedly killed in Pretoria by officers from the Tshwane Metro police department.

The South African body that investigates police conduct told the BBC on Monday the Iroegbu case was reported to it last week and that "our investigation is underway".

Joe, killed on 28 June, was attacked outside his shop in the city of eMalahleni, the ministry said.

Abuja said it was placing the South African government "on notice" and that "all options remain on the table... if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed".

Nigeria has said it will seek compensation from South Africa for its citizens who have left the country, adding that Abuja had begun documenting businesses and properties left behind by Nigerians.

However, at a media briefing on Friday, South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said her government would not pay compensation and that Nigerians can sell registered properties they left behind on the South African market.

She also said: "We would be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are, so they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently."

Nigeria's foreign ministry strongly condemned this comment in their statement on Sunday, calling it "unacceptable".

"Such derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech," the ministry said.

Nigeria's foreign ministry also accused protest groups in South Africa, including March on March and Operation Dudula, of inciting violence and hatred against other Africans.

It warned that those responsible could face regional and international legal action, though it is unclear steps Nigeria would take and whether it plans to raise the issue with the African Union.

Some anti-migrant groups in South Africa had given undocumented foreigners a deadline of 30 June to leave the country.

Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria are among African countries which repatriated some of their citizens ahead of the deadline.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world - at more than 30% - and anti-migrant sentiment has been rising in recent months.

The continent's most developed economy remains a magnet for people from poorer countries seeking work often in low-paid jobs.

By Makuochi Okafor, BBC

Related stories: 269 Nigerians return home from South Africa ahead of protest deadline

Nigeria evacuates citizens from South Africa as anti-migrant sentiment rises

269 Nigerians return home from South Africa ahead of protest deadline

 

A total of 269 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa were airlifted to the southwestern state of Lagos on Tuesday, according to a statement by Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the ministry, said that officials from the Nigerian Mission in South Africa accompanied the group of 269 evacuees. Last Wednesday, another 66 Nigerians returned aboard a South African Airways flight arranged by a Nigerian benefactor.

Ebienfa said the evacuation process remains ongoing, with more Nigerians having been screened and cleared for repatriation in the coming days.

The returnees will undergo documentation, profiling and medical screening before receiving temporary accommodation and other assistance ahead of reunification with their families.

South Africa has recently witnessed a wave of anti-immigration protests, with organizers citing unemployment, crime and pressure on public services as major concerns.

Some anti-immigration groups have called on undocumented foreigners to leave the country by June 30 and have threatened to stage nationwide protests if their demands are not met.

The first batch of 258 Nigerian nationals evacuated from South Africa arrived in Lagos on June 11.

Xinhua

Related story: Nigeria evacuates citizens from South Africa as anti-migrant sentiment rises

Stowaways found on rudder of Chinese bulker in Nigeria

 

The Nigerian Navy is reporting that it again seized several stowaways as it is grappling with a growing problem of stowaways attempting to hide on outbound ships. The authorities arrested five suspects who were hiding in the rudder compartment of a bulk carrier berthed at the Lagos port complex.

The Nigerian Navy said the five, who are aged between 24 and 43 years, were apprehended attempting to hide in the rudder compartment of the bulker Chinafrie Happiness (174,413 dwt). The 289-meter (948-foot) vessel sails under the flag of Liberia. It is Chinese-owned and was berthed alongside the Tin Can Island Port, bound for India.

The suspects were discovered on June 17 and were taken to the Nigerian Navy ship, where they underwent preliminary investigation and profiling before being handed over to the immigration service.

“The handover forms part of ongoing collaborative efforts among security agencies to curb illegal migration and enhance maritime safety and security,” said Sub-Lietenant AO Ajayi, Naval Assistant to Commander NNS Beecroft.

Ajayi added that with Nigeria recording increasing cases of stowaways in its seaports, it has now become important for the country to discourage youths from attempting to board seagoing vessels illegally.

In March, the Nigerian Navy arrested three suspected Ghanaian stowaways rescued from the 2008-built oil/chemical tanker MV Anatolia (IMO: 9388003) and who were trying to illegally migrate to Europe. The suspects were discovered concealed within the rudder compartment of the vessel that sails under the flag of Panama while the ship was berthed at the Dangote terminal in Lagos.

According to risk intelligence firm Castor Vali, stowaways have become a persistent operational risk for vessel owners operating in Nigeria and the wider West African maritime corridor. Last year, vessels recorded approximately 2,300 stowaway-related incidents, with some foreign shipping lines experiencing two to three cases per week.

The firm highlights that the stowaway problem is fast becoming costly owing to the fact that each confirmed stowaway can attract a sanction of around $2,000, contributing to annual costs estimated at roughly $4.6 million in Nigeria alone.

Total exposure can approach $30,000 per incident when other factors like repatriation, delay, security management, and compliance handling are taken into account. Some of the stowaways have been successful, with stowaways captured in the Canary Islands and a group that made it across the Atlantic to Brazil on the rudder of a ship.

The Maritime Executive

Related story: 14-Year-Old Stowaway Found At Lagos Airport Was Tired Of Nigeria

US warns citizens in Nigeria against online passport renewal

The United States has warned its citizens residing in Nigeria against using its online passport renewal system, cautioning that doing so from outside the United States could automatically invalidate their current passport and leave them without a valid travel document.

The warning follows reports of US citizens abroad unknowingly submitting online passport renewal applications while outside the country, only to discover that their existing passports had been cancelled before they received replacement documents.

According to guidance issued by US diplomatic missions, citizens physically present outside the United States, including those in Nigeria, are not eligible to use the online passport renewal platform. Once an application is submitted through the system, the passport being renewed is automatically cancelled and can no longer be used for international travel, even if it remains within its validity period.

“Applying to renew a U.S. passport online while outside the United States will result in the automatic cancellation of your current passport,” the embassy said in a recent advisory, urging citizens abroad to use embassy or consular services instead.

The US Embassy in Abuja and the US Consulate General in Lagos continue to provide passport services for American citizens in Nigeria, including renewals and first-time applications through scheduled appointments.

Officials advised citizens requiring passport renewals to follow the appropriate overseas renewal procedures rather than attempting to use the domestic online system designed for applicants within the United States.

The advisory comes as the US government continues to encourage its citizens overseas to maintain valid travel documents and stay informed about security developments in their host countries. Nigeria remains under a Level 3 travel advisory issued by the US State Department, which advises Americans to reconsider travel to certain parts of the country due to concerns including crime, terrorism, kidnapping and civil unrest.

The embassy noted that eligible applicants in Nigeria may also have access to a mail-in passport renewal service through the US Embassy in Abuja, reducing the need for in-person visits in some cases.

US citizens were further encouraged to enrol in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), which provides security updates, travel information and emergency notifications from US diplomatic missions.

The embassy advised Americans in Nigeria who are uncertain about their passport status or renewal options to contact the nearest US diplomatic mission before taking any action that could affect the validity of their travel documents.

Additional information on passport services and travel guidance is available through the US Embassy and Consulate in Nigeria.

By Azeez Kareem, The Guardian

Video - Nigeria warns against reprisals over xenophobic attacks in South Africa

Nigerian authorities have urged citizens not to target South African nationals or businesses following renewed xenophobic attacks on immigrants. Officials say security has been strengthened around key locations to prevent a repeat of the retaliatory attacks seen during previous outbreaks of xenophobic unrest.

CGTN Africa

Related story: Nigeria evacuates citizens from South Africa as anti-migrant sentiment rises

Nigerian man unable to claim Italian lottery win gains residency permit

A Nigerian man who won €500,000 in an Italian lottery – but was barred from collecting his windfall because he was undocumented – said the hardship of his more than decade-long immigration journey had been eased after he was finally granted a residency permit.

“I’ve been praying for this moment ever since I arrived in Italy,” said Imagbe Ehizomwengie, 36. “It’s a huge relief. You might think it’s incredible, but receiving the permit means more to me than winning the money. I want to work and contribute to society.”

Ehizomwengie bought the €5 Gratta e Vinci – Italy’s official instant scratchcard lottery – last October with money scraped together from selling handkerchiefs and begging outside a supermarket in Turin.

He cried tears of joy and relief when he discovered he had hit the jackpot, only for the win to be overshadowed by his bureaucratic quagmire.

Speaking to the Guardian, Ehizomwengie said he had arrived in Italy in 2016 after a treacherous journey across the Mediterranean from Libya, where he had been held captive for two years and was only released after a ransom was paid.

His request for a “special protection” permit – which until being restricted by Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government in 2023 granted residency to asylum seekers who did not qualify as refugees but faced serious risks to their life if sent home – was rejected.

Unable to work, Ehizomwengie got by as a street seller, occasionally chancing his luck with scratchcards in the hope of reversing his fortunes.

“When I lived in Nigeria, I was always praying for opportunities, but they never came,” he said. “But you also need to take risks in life, and I kept believing that one day I might even become a millionaire.”

He added: “I stopped buying the scratchcards for years but on the day I won … I truly believe God was watching over me.”

But then began his quest to claim his winnings. Without a residency permit, Ehizomwengie could not open a bank account to receive the money. In turn, without the money he could not demonstrate the financial independence needed to support his renewed appeal for a residency permit.

Scrambling for a solution, after being taken advantage of by a Nigerian friend to whom he had entrusted the money, the friend agreed to transfer about half of the post-tax winnings to Ehizomwengie’s cousin’s account. The funds were then used to buy Mama Africa, a shop selling food produce from Africa in the seaside town of Falconara in the Marche region of Italy.

In the meantime, Ehizomwengie’s lawyer, Andrea Palazzeschi, pursued his case through a court in Ancona, which this week ordered that a residence permit be issued, taking into consideration Ehizomwengie’s competent Italian, his work at Mama Africa and, pertinently, his new financial independence.

Palazzeschi said: “But it’s important to stress that Imagbe didn’t get the residence permit because he won the money, he got it because he proved to be a good candidate.”

Gratta e Vinci scratchcards are hugely popular in Italy. In 2019, an unemployed fisher in Puglia found a winning €100,000 scratchcard in a rubbish bin and was able to cash it in, while in 2022 a young man in northern Italy won €500,000 and fainted on the spot due to the shock.

Needless to say, Ehizomwengie has attracted much attention in Falconara, where he said he would organise a party to which everyone will be invited. “But only to celebrate receiving my permit,” he said. “I want to work and intend to keep my feet firmly on the ground. I just want to live a normal life.”

By Angela Giuffrida, The Guardian

Nigeria evacuates citizens from South Africa as anti-migrant sentiment rises

Nigeria has become the latest African state to repatriate some of its citizens from South Africa following a rise in anti-migrant sentiments in the country.

A flight carrying 268 Nigerians has landed in Lagos after leaving Johannesburg on Thursday morning. The passengers were part of around 1,000 people who the Nigerian consulate in South Africa says have registered to be repatriated.

Ghana, Zimbabwe and Malawi have already carried out evacuations, ahead of a 30 June deadline set by some campaigners for undocumented migrants to leave.

Many people from other parts of Africa moved to South Africa around the time white-minority rule ended in 1994, hoping for a better life.

But with South Africa facing an unemployment rate of more than 30%, anti-migrant sentiments have risen, with protest marches being held in major cities and people facing xenophobic attacks.

At the main international airport in Johannesburg, Justin, one of the Nigerian passengers, told the BBC that he had lived in South Africa since 1998.

"I'm leaving because of the conditions they've given us here. They say we must leave on or before 30th June. And because of the way they are killing people, killing our brothers, so I'm not safe," Justin said.

Justin told the BBC that he had already been targeted.

"Recently they attacked me in a taxi. I ran away and left my things. I left my phone and everything.

"They call us names and say you must leave this country. When we tried to beg them, they started insulting us."

There have been no official figures regarding the number of deaths caused by xenophobic violence in recent weeks.

The police have said two Mozambican men were killed in Western Cape province earlier this month but have not given a motive.

The Mozambican authorities said the death toll was higher, and their citizens have been killed as a result of xenophobia.

Some of the protesters have pointed the finger at migrants for South Africa's high unemployment rate, and putting pressure on public services like schools and hospitals.

However, Nigeria's Consul General in South Africa, Ninikanwa Okey-Uche, told the BBC that migrants made up less than 10% of South Africa's population, and could not be "blamed for broken systems in education, health care, policing, unemployment".

"They are not and cannot be the problem. So, migrants are basically being scapegoated," Okey-Uche added.

A spokesman for South Africa's Border Management Agency told local TV station Newzroom Afrika that none of the passengers on the flight had documents to live in South Africa legally.

Okey-Uche said she did not have the figures, but delays in processing applications could lead to some people ending up as undocumented migrants.

She added that the South African authorities need to do more to act against people "propagating these xenophobic attacks and anti-foreigner sentiments".

"There are a lot of top South African politicians who have spoken up against what's happening, saying it's absolutely wrong.

"But down on the street, we need to see arrests. We know the people in charge. They're not hiding. They've caused mayhem in people's lives, but they're walking free. Some of them are running for election," Okey-Uche said.

South Africa is due to hold local government elections in November, with some analysts believing that migration is being turned into a major campaign issue.

On Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa made a televised address responding to the protests, announcing new measures to crackdown on illegal migration.

These include jailing employers who hire undocumented workers, setting up dedicated courts to speed up the deportations and having a biometric database for everyone in the country to avoid identity theft.

He also warned South Africans not to take the law into their own hands by targeting those they suspect of being in the country illegally.

By Mayeni Jones, BBC

Related stories: Nigeria plans to repatriate nationals willing to leave South Africa after attacks

Police warn against reprisal attacks on South Africans in Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has warned against reprisal attacks on South Africans residing in Nigeria over the recent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in the former apartheid country.

The police issued the warning on Sunday in a statement signed by spokesman, Anthony Placid, saying anyone who attacks South African nationals or businesses in Nigeria will face the full wrath of the law.

Placid said the NPF had received concerns about possible reprisal attacks on South African nationals, businesses, and interests in Nigeria in response to the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

“While concerns about attacks on Nigerians in South Africa are understandable, the public is strongly advised not to take the law into their own hands,” the statement read.

“Reprisal attacks, violence, intimidation, destruction of property, hate speech, or any conduct that threatens public peace and national security is unlawful and will not be tolerated.

“Nigeria remains a nation governed by the rule of law. All persons lawfully residing within the country, irrespective of nationality, are entitled to protection under the law.

“Consequently, any attempt to target South African nationals, diplomatic facilities, businesses, or other lawful interests within Nigeria will be treated as a criminal act and dealt with in accordance with extant laws.”

Placid also urged the public to refrain from spreading unverified, inflammatory, or inciting information, especially on social media.

According to him, false or provocative content can escalate tensions, undermine public order, and hinder diplomatic efforts to resolve the situation.

He added that the police is collaborating with other security and intelligence agencies and has implemented security measures and increased surveillance around critical national assets, foreign missions, and other key locations.

“Adequate deployments have been made to prevent any breakdown of law and order,” Placid explained.

By Oluyemi Ogunseyin, The Guardian

Related story: Nigeria evacuating 130 citizens from S. Africa after attacks

Nigeria evacuating 130 citizens from S. Africa after attacks

Nigeria has announced a "voluntary repatriation" program for its citizens in South Africa, following a series of xenophobic incidents in the continent's most industrialized nation.

Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said on Sunday that 130 people had already registered to return home.

"This figure is expected to rise," she wrote on social media, adding that "Nigerian lives and businesses in SA must not continue to be put at risk."

Two Nigerians were killed in incidents connected to South African security personnel last month, Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

Why are Nigerians leaving South Africa?

South Africa has seen an uptick in anti-immigrant rhetoric in recent months. There have been a series of protests led by groups claiming that irregular migration is hurting the country's economy.

A number of violent attacks have also been reported, mostly targeting Black Africans from other countries.

But experts have warned that immigrants are merely being scapegoated for South Africa's economic woes, and that the anti-migrant fervor is being driven by populist pundits online.

According to South Africa's national statistics agency, there are some 3 million immigrants living in the country, roughly 5% of the population, with the majority coming from the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.

What did South Africa say about the anti-migrant violence?

South Africa's Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola told the press that he had spoken over the phone with Odumegwu-Ojukwu and "We reflected on the challenges posed by irregular migration and committed to working to address the root causes, find common and sustainable solutions to this shared concern."

The Nigerian Foreign Ministry said that South Africa's high commissioner in Abuja was set to hold talks with Nigerian representatives on Monday to discuss "documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses."

South Africa is set to hold elections on November 4. Odumegwu-Ojukwu blamed anti-foreigner opposition parties for stoking "a repetitive wave" of xenophobic rhetoric "to garner votes."

Last week, Firoz Cachalia, South Africa's acting police minister, condemned the anti-migrant violence, saying: "Acts of xenophobia, violence, looting or intimidation will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

By Elizabeth Schumacher, DW

Related story: Nigeria summons South Africa envoy over xenophobic incidents

Nigeria summons South Africa envoy over xenophobic incidents

Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting high commissioner to a meeting at the foreign ministry on Monday, citing growing anti-African migrant protests.

The move comes just over a week after Ghana's foreign ministry held talks with South Africa's acting high commissioner in Accra to protest several alleged "xenophobic incidents" involving Ghanaians.

Meanwhile, news outlet City Press reports that South African trucks and citizens could be prevented from entering neighboring Mozambique on Monday, as protests were expected at Ressano Garcia in retaliation for xenophobic marches, statements and attacks against immigrants in South Africa.

The developments come only days after South Africa's police ministry vowed to crack down on anyone carrying out xenophobic attacks against Ghanaians and other foreign nationals, or found participating in or inciting xenophobic acts.

Xenophobia not new in South Africa

Xenophobia has long been an issue in South Africa, and in recent months more anti-migrant protests have been reported, some of which included violence against foreign shopkeepers.

The focus of the anti-migrant incidents has been Black Africans, with more than two thirds of South Africa's estimated three million foreign residents coming from neighboring Southern African countries.

With an unemployment rate of more than 30%, campaigners for migrant rights say migrants have been scapegoated in South Africa for the country's economic woes.

Ferial Haffajee, the associate editor of South Africa's Daily Maverick, wrote that "political entrepreneurs" had been abusing the situation.

"Populist political entrepreneurs who leverage social media and the social harm of widespread unemployment and inequality to drive campaigns that build their followings. This can later be parsed into political leadership positions and a high life," she wrote.

Some mainstream South African political parties, including Action SA and Inkatha Freedom Party, have also joined demonstrations, which they say were to protest undocumented migrants.

International concern over anti-migrant violence

Nigeria and Ghana are not the only countries to raise concern about the trend.

On April 27, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement released by his spokesman that he was "deeply concerned by reports of xenophobic attacks and acts of harassment and intimidation against migrants and foreign nationals."

"Violence, vigilantism and all forms of incitement to hatred have no place in an inclusive, democratic society governed by the rule of law and respect for human rights," he said.

South Africa's foreign affairs minister, Ronald Lamola, last month told a meeting of government officials that violence against migrants was a threat to South Africa's constitutional order.

"Acts of lawlessness, intimidation and violence against migrant communities have no place in our constitutional democracy," he said.

The country's police minister, Firoz Cachalia, said, "acts of xenophobia, violence, looting, or intimidation will not be tolerated under any circumstances."

By Louis Oelofse, DW

Related story: Nigeria plans to repatriate nationals willing to leave South Africa after attacks

Nigeria plans to repatriate nationals willing to leave South Africa after attacks

Nigeria is planning to repatriate its nationals in South Africa willing to return home voluntarily, amid growing fears that recent attacks on foreigners there could escalate.

Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said 130 applicants had already registered for the exercise, adding that the number was expected to rise.

She expressed President Bola Tinubu's concern about the attacks in the southern African nation, and condemned the violence against foreign nationals and demonstrations characterised by "xenophobic rhetoric, hate speeches and incendiary anti-migrant statements".

Nigeria has summoned South Africa's acting High Commissioner over the issue.

Nigeria will formally convey its "profound concern" at a meeting later on Monday over the incidents in South Africa, saying they could affect existing relations between the countries, according to a foreign ministry statement.

The meeting will focus on recent marches held by anti-immigrant groups and "documented instances of mistreatment of Nigerian citizens and attacks on their businesses", it said.

On Sunday, Nigeria's foreign minister said: "Nigerian lives and businesses in South Africa must not continue to be put at risk, and we remain committed to working to explore with South Africa ways to put an end to this."

She cited the killing of two Nigerians in separate incidents involving local security personnel, insisting that her government was demanding justice.

She said the Nigerian president's priority was for the safety of citizens and "consequently, arrangements are currently under way to collate details of Nigerians in South Africa for voluntary repatriation flights for those seeking assistance to return home".

Four Ethiopian nationals have also been killed in recent weeks, local media reported, while there have been attacks on citizens of other African countries.

As Africa's most industrialised country, people from elsewhere in the continent have long travelled to South Africa to seek work.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks but also cautioned foreigners to respect local laws.

He used his Freedom Day address last week - marking the country's first democratic elections in 1994 - to remind South Africans of the support other African nations had given in the struggle against the racist system of apartheid.

But some South Africans accuse foreigners of being in the county illegally, taking jobs from locals and having links to crime, especially drugs trafficking.

Anti-immigrant groups have been stopping people outside hospitals and schools demanding to see their identity papers.

During a march by one such group in the capital, Pretoria, last week, foreign-owned businesses were urged to close in case of violence.

At the time, one Nigerian man told BBC Pidgin: "It is not okay because we are blacks, we are brothers... everybody comes here just to survive."

A security guard, who was unable to go to work because of the protest, told the BBC: "It's not what we expected as fellow Africans."

"It's just making us scared - imagine if we're scared in our own African continent - what if we go to Europe?" he asked.

Last month, Ghana summoned South Africa's top envoy after a video was widely shared showing a Ghanaian man being challenged to prove he had the correct immigration papers.

Anti-immigrant sentiment rose earlier this year after reports that the head of the Nigerian community in the port city of KuGompo (formerly East London) had been installed in a traditional role that can be translated as "king". Some South Africans in the local area saw this as an attempt to grab political power.

South Africa is home to about 2.4 million migrants, just less than 4% of the population, according to official figures. However, many more are thought to be in the country unofficially.

Most come from neighbouring countries such as Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Mozambique, which have a history of providing migrant labour to their wealthy neighbour. A smaller number come from Nigeria.

By Paul Njieand Joseph Winter, BBC

UK agrees deal to ease migrant returns to Nigeria

 

The government has agreed a deal with Nigeria to make it easier to remove people with no right to be in the UK.

For the first time, the Nigerian government will recognise UK letters - an identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport - so people will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued before they can be returned.

The agreement was struck during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu state visit to the UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the president's visit - the first by a leader of a west African nation in 37 years - as "historic".

On Wednesday, the King hosted a spectacular state banquet at Windsor Castle for the president and first lady, praising the strength of the ties between the two nations.

President Tinubu also met the prime minister at No 10.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders "committed to deepening their long-term partnership on trade, infrastructure and sustainable growth".

They also agreed to work more closely together on defence and security in response to transnational crime and terrorism, the spokesperson said.

The Home Office said the immigration deal would make it easier to return people who overstay their visas, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.

It said annual returns to Nigeria had nearly doubled to 1,150.

The two countries have also agreed to launch joint operations and share information to crack down on criminal gangs abusing visa routes.

A new standardised document-checking system will be introduced to verify the authenticity of applications.

The Home Office said it followed a series of high-profile cases involving fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged financial or employment records.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will review its laws to ensure the toughest possible sentences are given to immigration offenders.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said: "Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK's largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here."

A separate deal, worth £746m, will see two major ports in Lagos refurbished with the help of UK-backed loans.

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government's export credit agency, has provided a guarantee to the banks loaning the funds under the condition at least 20% of the contracts are sourced from the UK.

At least £236m of supplier contracts will be directed to British firms, including £70m for British steel - the company's largest ever export backed by UKEF.

It comes as the UK sets out a new strategy to boost the domestic steel industry.

Tinubu's visit was also the first to the UK by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in almost a century.

Special adaptations were made to the state banquet, with a prayer room set aside in Windsor Castle, while the usual lunch hosted by the King did not take place as Tinubu was fasting.

On Thursday, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who is Christian, also visited Lambeth Palace, the London home of the archbishop of Canterbury.

The visit comes at a time of tension within Nigeria, with a series of suspected suicide bombings this week in the north-eastern state of Borno, in which at least 23 people were killed and 108 injured in attacks blamed on hard-line Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group.

By Becky Morton, BBC

US visa bond scuttles travel plans for Nigerians

Travelers from over 20 African countries must now pay refundable bonds of up to $15,000 for US business and tourist visas, a policy aimed at reducing overstays. Uche Ohiri, a Nigerian visa applicant, says she has delayed her US plans and is now uncertain about reapplying due to the new financial requirement. Travel consultant Precious Okafor says that the policy is deterring hardworking Nigerians from pursuing short vacations, with many now looking to countries like Canada or the UK instead.

CGTN Africa

U.S. suspends visa processing for Nigeria, 74 others

The United States of America has announced an indefinite suspension of visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries with effect from Jan. 21, 2026.A State Department memo directed consular officers to refuse visas under existing law, while screening and vetting procedures are reassessed.

According to the memo, the pause begins on Jan. 21 and will continue indefinitely until the Department of State completes its reassessment of visa processing.

The State Department spokesperson, Tommy Piggott, said that “Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while procedures are reassessed to prevent entry of foreign nationals who would take welfare and public benefits.”

The United States and Nigeria operate visa reciprocity policies, which means that countries set visa rules based on how their citizens are treated abroad.

If U.S. citizens face limits or high fees, Nigeria may impose similar restrictions through reciprocity schedules.

The key aspects include fees, validity periods and permitted numbers of entries.

The affected countries include Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil and Burma.

Others listed are Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea and Ethiopia.

The other countries include Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan and Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco and Nepal.

The list also includes Nicaragua, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia and Uganda Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

APA News

US introduces $15,000 visa bond for Nigerians

The United States has introduced new travel restrictions that could require Nigerians applying for B1/B2 visas to post bonds of up to $15,000.

According to information published on the US Department of State’s website, Travel.State.Gov, the payment of a bond does not guarantee visa issuance, adding that fees paid without the direction of a consular officer will not be refunded.

Of the listed Nations, African countries accounted for 24 of the 38, including Nigeria, in the updated list released by the US State Department on Tuesday.

Visa bonds are financial guarantees required by the US State Department for certain foreign nationals from countries classified as high-risk, who are applying for B1/B2 visas for business or tourism purposes.

The implementation dates vary by country, with Nigeria’s date set for January 21, 2026.

The Department of State said nationals from the listed countries have been identified as requiring visa bonds, with implementation dates shown in parentheses.

Countries affected include Algeria (21 January 2026), Angola (21 January 2026), Antigua and Barbuda (21 January 2026), Bangladesh (21 January 2026), Benin (21 January 2026), Bhutan (1 January 2026), Botswana (1 January 2026), Burundi (21 January 2026), Cabo Verde (21 January 2026), Central African Republic (1 January 2026), Côte d’Ivoire (21 January 2026), Cuba (21 January 2026), Djibouti (21 January 2026), Dominica (21 January 2026).

Others are; Fiji (21 January 2026), Gabon (21 January 2026), The Gambia (11 October 2025), Guinea (1 January 2026), Guinea-Bissau (1 January 2026), Kyrgyzstan (21 January 2026), Malawi (20 August 2025), Mauritania (23 October 2025), Namibia (1 January 2026), Nepal (21 January 2026).

The rest are; Nigeria (21 January 2026), São Tomé and Príncipe (23 October 2025), Senegal (21 January 2026), Tajikistan (21 January 2026), Tanzania (23 October 2025), Togo (21 January 2026), Tonga (21 January 2026), Turkmenistan (1 January 2026), Tuvalu (21 January 2026), Uganda (21 January 2026), Vanuatu (21 January 2026), Venezuela (21 January 2026), Zambia (20 August 2025), and Zimbabwe (21 January 2026).

The directive states that, “Any citizen or national travelling on a passport issued by one of these countries, who is otherwise found eligible for a B1/B2 visa, must post a bond of $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. The amount is determined during the visa interview.

“Applicants must also submit the Department of Homeland Security’s Form I-352. Applicants must also agree to the terms of the bond through the US Department of the Treasury’s online payment platform, Pay.gov. This requirement applies regardless of the place of application.”

It added that Visa holders who post bonds must enter the United States through designated airports, including Boston Logan International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, and Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia.

Bonds will only be refunded when the Department of Homeland Security records the visa holder’s departure from the United States on or before the expiration of their authorised stay, when the applicant does not travel before the visa expires, or when a traveller applies for and is denied admission at a US port of entry.

This development follows the introduction of partial US travel restrictions on Nigeria a week earlier. Nigeria was among 15 mostly African countries, including Angola, Antigua, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia and others that were placed under partial travel suspensions by the US government on 16 December.

In Nigeria’s case, the US cited the presence and operations of radical Islamic terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State in certain parts of the country, resulting in “substantial screening and vetting difficulties.”

An overstay rate of 5.56 per cent for B1/B2 visas and 11.90 per cent for F, M, and J visas was also cited as a justification for Nigeria’s inclusion. As a result, the travel suspension covered immigrant visas as well as non-immigrant categories, including B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas.

By Deborah Musa, Punch

U.S. revokes 85,000 visas held by Nigerians and other foreign nationals

The U.S. State Department has revoked a record 85,000 visas belonging to foreign nationals, including some Nigerians, as the Trump administration intensifies scrutiny of visitors entering the United States.

According to officials, more than 8,000 of the revoked visas were student visas, a figure that is more than double the number recorded in 2024.

Officials say the visa revocations were driven by a range of security and criminal concerns, including DUIs, assault and theft, offences that together accounted for nearly half of all cancellations over the past year.

“These are people who pose a direct threat to our communities’ safety, and we do not want to have them in our country,” a U.S. official said.

The update comes as Trump, upon assuming office, vowed to lead the largest deportation drive and crackdown on illegal immigrants in the United States.

Criminal and security concerns

U.S. consular officers have been instructed to take a tougher approach to H-1B applications and deny visas to anyone found to have engaged in “censorship or attempted censorship” of protected speech in the United States.

In November, the Department of State cited assault, theft, and driving under the influence among the major reasons for the visa revocations.

Other reasons include terrorism, supporting terrorism, public safety threats, and overstaying visas.

The administration also moved to pause immigration from 19 countries already subject to partial or full travel restrictions.

Last week, the State Department announced a new visa-restriction policy targeting individuals accused of orchestrating anti-Christian violence in Nigeria and other parts of the world. The measure follows a series of deadly attacks in the West African nation.

By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider Africa