The Federal Government, through the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), has issued a caution to Nigerians living in South Africa over planned anti-foreigner demonstrations set for April 27–29, 2026, in Gauteng Province. The alert follows a formal advisory from the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg, dated April 22, 2026 (Ref No: CGJHB/AD/209/VOL I), which reported that recent protests in East London, Cape Town, Durban, and KwaZulu-Natal turned violent, resulting in looting, property damage, and injuries. NiDCOM, led by Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged all Nigerian citizens to avoid confrontations, refrain from engaging with protest groups, and monitor local media for updates. Nigerian business owners were advised to close operations on Freedom Day, April 27, and consider staying shut on April 28 and 29, as foreign-owned businesses are frequent targets during such unrest. The Consulate General remains operational and is coordinating with South African police to safeguard Nigerians. Ambassador Ninikanwa Okey-Uche's position has been fully endorsed by NiDCOM, while Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Amb. Bianca Ojukwu engages her South African counterpart. The warning comes amid viral social media videos showing groups confronting and assaulting African immigrants, demanding they leave the country.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa's advisory highlights a gap: Nigerians are told to shut businesses to avoid violence, yet no mechanism is offered to protect livelihoods during enforced closures. Nigerian traders in Gauteng face financial loss simply by complying with safety directives. If foreign-owned shops are targeted by protesters, the burden of prevention falls entirely on victims, not protection. This shifts responsibility from state security to individual survival.
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