A former President of both the Nigeria and African Union of Journalists, Lanre Ogundipe, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent and decisive steps to halt what he described as escalating attacks on Nigerians residing in South Africa.
In an open SOS letter addressed to the President, Ogundipe warned that the recurring violence against Nigerians in the Republic of South Africa has gone beyond isolated xenophobic incidents, describing it as a growing humanitarian and diplomatic concern that tests Nigeria’s responsibility to protect its citizens abroad.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
He noted that Nigerians in South Africa now operate in an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, with businesses threatened, livelihoods disrupted, and lives increasingly at risk.
According to him, the persistent nature of the attacks reflects a pattern that has become predictable and emboldened by the absence of sustained consequences for perpetrators.
“What is unfolding is neither new nor isolated. It is a recurring pattern… Nigerians in South Africa today face an environment defined by fear, uncertainty, and vulnerability,” he stated.
Ogundipe argued that the situation represents a structural failure of protection, stressing that Nigeria can no longer afford to respond to the crisis in a fragmented manner.
“At its core, this is a question of state capacity and credibility. When Nigerian citizens are persistently exposed to violence abroad without visible and effective protection, it sends a troubling signal to the international community,” he added.
To address the situation, the media veteran proposed a series of measures, including immediate high-level diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa with clearly defined timelines and outcomes focused on citizen protection.
He also called for the establishment of a joint Nigeria–South Africa protection framework, incorporating rapid response mechanisms in identified hotspots where Nigerians are most vulnerable.
Ogundipe further urged the Federal Government to insist on the identification, arrest, and prosecution of those responsible for both recent and previous attacks, warning that continued impunity would only embolden further violence.
He emphasised the need to strengthen Nigeria’s consular presence in South Africa to provide real-time support and improved communication with affected citizens, alongside periodic public briefings to keep Nigerians informed of government actions and progress.
While stressing that his call was not for confrontation, Ogundipe maintained that the protection of citizens, whether at home or abroad, remains a fundamental duty of government.
He added that although Nigeria and South Africa share longstanding historical ties rooted in continental solidarity, the current situation requires firm but measured intervention to safeguard human dignity without undermining diplomatic relations.
“The lives and livelihoods of Nigerians abroad must not be left to cycles of reaction and silence. This moment calls for resolve,” he said.
