By Steve Otaloro
The controversy surrounding the Nigerian Consul General in South Africa serves as a reminder that public officials must exercise caution in both their words and actions, especially during times of hardship and uncertainty.
While the Federal Government of Nigeria deserves recognition for its efforts to evacuate stranded citizens from South Africa, the Consul General’s decision to publicly ask distressed Nigerians to thank President Bola Tinubu was ill-advised. No one appointed her to solicit public appreciation on behalf of the President. Her primary responsibility was to reassure stranded citizens and provide them with clear information regarding their evacuation, not to seek expressions of gratitude from people facing anxiety, displacement, and uncertainty.
By doing so, she unnecessarily exposed both herself and the government to public criticism and backlash. Such conduct reinforces the perception that some public officials are more interested in flattering those in authority than in effectively discharging their duties. Government representatives should focus on service delivery rather than public displays of loyalty that often achieve the opposite of their intended purpose.
That said, the reaction of some stranded Nigerians also deserves scrutiny. While their frustrations are understandable, resorting to insults and attacks against the President is neither constructive nor justified. The reality remains that the Nigerian government did not compel these citizens to relocate to South Africa in the first place. The evacuation exercise is an extraordinary intervention undertaken out of concern for the welfare of its citizens abroad.
Citizens have every right to expect competent governance, but emergency evacuations from foreign countries should also be viewed as a privilege extended by a government acting in the interest of its people. Rather than directing personal abuse at the President, affected individuals should channel their grievances toward demanding better communication, faster implementation, and greater accountability from the relevant authorities.
Beyond the evacuation controversy lies a much deeper and more troubling issue: the persistent xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa. For years, migrants and business owners from various African countries have been subjected to violence, intimidation, looting, and discrimination. Yet it is difficult to ignore the contrast between the hostility often directed at fellow Africans and the comparatively welcoming attitude shown toward visitors and investors from many Western countries.
Such a contradiction undermines the spirit of African solidarity. No African nation can afford to exist in isolation. The continent’s development depends on cooperation, trade, investment, and the free movement of people and ideas. If every African country were to retaliate by expelling South African nationals, boycotting South African businesses, or obstructing South African investments across the continent, the economic consequences would be severe and far-reaching.
Equally concerning is the role of the South African government. While officials routinely condemn xenophobic violence, many Africans across the continent believe that the response has often been too weak, too slow, and insufficiently deterrent. Criminals who attack foreign nationals and loot businesses frequently operate with a sense of impunity. When governments fail to decisively punish perpetrators, they inadvertently create the impression that such actions are tolerated. Silence, inaction, or inadequate enforcement can be interpreted as tacit approval.
The South African government must therefore do more than issue statements. It must demonstrate through concrete action that every person living legally within its borders is entitled to protection under the law regardless of nationality. Failure to do so risks damaging South Africa’s standing across Africa and weakening the bonds that unite the continent.
Ultimately, both Nigerian and South African authorities have lessons to learn from this episode. Public officials must avoid unnecessary grandstanding, governments must communicate effectively with their citizens, and African leaders must confront xenophobia with the seriousness it deserves. Africa’s future depends not on division and hostility but on mutual respect, cooperation, and a shared commitment to protecting all Africans wherever they may reside on the continent.
– Steve Otaloro is a Nigerian public affairs commentator, political analyst, and writer whose works focus on governance, diplomacy, African affairs, democracy, and social issues. He regularly contributes opinion pieces on national and international developments, offering perspectives on public policy, leadership, and regional integration across Africa.
