South Africans Given End of July Ultimatum to Leave Nigeria

The Forum of National Youth Leaders of all Political Parties in Nigeria has watched, with profound disappointment, how the Government of South Africa has sought to play down what is an open affront to African unity and solidarity.

What is unfolding in South Africa today is not merely xenophobia; it is afrophobia—the persecution and aggression of Africans by fellow Africans on African soil.

South Africa is, arguably, the African nation that has received greater benefits from the continent than almost any other. During the dark era of apartheid, the entire African community stood by South Africa, with Nigeria among the most steadfast supporters.

Barely months after independence on 1 October 1960, Nigeria embraced the anti-apartheid struggle with unwavering commitment, investing heavily in its pursuit. By October 1961, Nigeria’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jaja Ndubuisi Wachukwu, was already condemning apartheid on the floor of the United Nations. From that moment, we ensured South Africa’s apartheid problem remained central to Nigeria’s foreign policy.

Nigeria also established the Southern Africa Relief Fund, funded through deductions from the earnings of Nigerian workers—popularly referred to as the “Mandela Tax.” This is the scale of the sacrifice Nigeria made for South Africa. Today, however, what we are confronted with is a hostile response to our humanity: “Go back home—leave our country.”

Regrettably, South Africans are now humiliating, harassing, and embarrassing Nigerians—issuing short-notice directives to leave their country, supposedly to make way for violence, to seize businesses, and to loot the hard-earned possessions of Nigerians.

Yes, we are peaceful and law-abiding youth leaders. But we must also be unequivocal: no one is entitled to justify madness as policy or virtue. We are therefore issuing this statement as a clear message to South Africa—that nobody should mistake tolerance for permission, nor restraint for submission.

Accordingly, Nigerian residents of South African nationality are hereby given notice to leave Nigeria, effective from today through the end of July 2026, to return to their country of origin. Failure to comply will mean that they will encounter in Nigeria what Nigerians experienced in South Africa.

Enough is enough.

Signed.