Xenophobia: 90 killed since 2022 in South Africa – FG

He added that upon arrival, the returnees were received by Haruna Ali-Gombe, the director, African Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who welcomed them on behalf of the federal government.

Ebienfa said: “They were handed over to relevant government agencies for necessary documentation and profiling ahead of their reunification with their families.”

He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to the welfare and safe return of all Nigerian citizens abroad, and profound appreciation to the Nigerian Mission in South Africa.

He expressed appreciation to the private individuals who sponsored the exercise and agencies involved in ensuring a smooth reception and reintegration process.

The federal government has called for urgent and concrete measures to halt xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa.

This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Raphael Oni, Special Assistant on Digital Media and Public Diplomacy, Office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

It said the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, said this during a virtual roundtable on: “South Africa’s Xenophobia in Comparative Perspective,” convened by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

Mr Enikanolaiye was quoted as saying that the crisis must be tackled through stronger migration governance, responsible leadership, and deeper people-to-people ties across the continent.

The minister said that Nigeria views the challenge that surrounds Afrophobia as one that must be understood without denial or exaggeration.

He said the violence is bearing particularly African, post-colonial and post-apartheid character, hence the more accurate term, Afrophobia.

 (NAN)