By Nkechi Eze
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) has urged Nigerians residing in South Africa to exercise heightened caution and strictly adhere to safety advisories issued by the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg, following a surge in violent anti-foreigner demonstrations across parts of the country.
According to an official signed statement by Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit at NiDCOM, the advisory follows an official circular from the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg dated April 22, 2026, which detailed escalating unrest in several locations, including East London, Cape Town, Durban, and KwaZulu-Natal.
The statement disclosed that the demonstrations in these areas have turned violent, resulting in incidents of looting, destruction of property, and injuries, particularly targeting foreign nationals and their businesses.
It further revealed that intelligence contained in the Consulate’s circular indicates that additional protests are scheduled to take place in Gauteng Province between April 27 and April 29, 2026, with demonstrators reportedly seeking to pressure the South African government over the presence of foreign nationals in the country.
In response, NiDCOM advised Nigerian citizens to avoid all forms of confrontation, refrain from engaging with protest groups, and closely monitor local media for real-time updates on the security situation. Nigerians were also reminded to remain law-abiding at all times.
The Commission specifically cautioned Nigerian business owners to take preventive measures by closing their establishments on April 27, which coincides with South Africa’s Freedom Day, and to consider remaining closed through April 28 and 29, as foreign-owned businesses are often primary targets during such unrest.
While endorsing the position of the Consul-General, Ambassador Ninikanwa O. Okey-Uche, the statement noted that the Nigerian Consulate General in Johannesburg remains fully operational and is actively liaising with South African police authorities to safeguard Nigerian nationals.
It added that Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Onoh, is currently engaging with her South African counterpart as part of diplomatic efforts to address the situation and ensure the safety of Nigerians in the country.
