There has been outrage among Nigerians following the reported killing of two Nigerian nationals, Bishop Michael Fakunle and James Nwankwo, in separate incidents in South Africa. Their deaths have renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians abroad and raised questions about why many citizens continue to seek opportunities outside a country endowed with vast natural resources.
Fakunle, an indigene of Iye in the Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, was allegedly shot dead by unknown persons at his residence in Johannesburg on September 4, after reportedly receiving a series of threats.
Nwankwo, on the other hand, reportedly died on September 5 following what has been described as “gruesome interrogation techniques” allegedly used by officers of the South African Police Service.
The incidents have intensified concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, amid recurring xenophobic attacks and allegations of police brutality.
According to Nigeria’s ambassador-designate to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, the two men were the seventh and eighth Nigerians allegedly murdered in the country this year. He claimed that four of the eight Nigerians were allegedly killed by South African police officers.
Fani-Kayode also alleged that more than 100 Nigerian nationals had been murdered in South Africa between 2022 and September 2026, with over 30 reportedly killed by officers of the South African Police Service and South African Defence Force. He criticised the alleged lack of arrests, prosecutions and convictions in connection with the deaths.
“Simply put, our patience is wearing thin,” the ambassador-designate said, urging the South African Government to protect Nigerians from groups promoting xenophobia.
The development prompted the National Assembly on Friday to suspend official visits to South Africa and direct its members and officials to boycott legislative activities hosted or organised by South African authorities until further notice.
However, South Africa’s Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, said his government had not received official communication about the decision. He maintained that the development did not, at that stage, affect bilateral relations between the two countries.
Lamola said Nigeria had provided South Africa with a list of about 100 Nigerians reportedly killed in the country, adding that South African authorities had verified the cases and remained willing to engage with the Nigerian Government.
Meanwhile, the South African Consul-General in Lagos, Prof Bobby Moroe, declined to comment directly on the latest killings, saying responses would come from the government headquarters in Pretoria. As of Sunday night, no response had been received.
The deaths have also generated reactions from Nigerians on social media, with some demanding stronger diplomatic and economic measures against South Africa. Others, however, cautioned against allowing legitimate concerns over attacks on Nigerians to degenerate into hatred for South Africans as a people.
Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen, the President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South Africa, Dr ABC Okokoh, described the killings of Nigerians as a longstanding concern. He alleged that Nigerian nationals were particularly vulnerable to high-handed treatment by the police and called for stronger legal and media support for affected families.
Similarly, the President of the Association of Yorubas in Diaspora, South Africa, Dr Olusola Agbeniyi, expressed concern over what he described as inadequate coverage of attacks against Nigerians by South African media. He urged the South African Government to take decisive action against groups promoting xenophobia.
The President-General of the Nigerian Union South Africa, Dr Smart Nwobi, also demanded thorough investigations into the deaths, insisting that anyone found responsible—whether a civilian or security official—must face the law.
The Federal Government has since expressed shock over the deaths and demanded justice for Fakunle and Nwankwo. In a statement, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oluwafemi Adeniyi, called on the relevant South African authorities to immediately commence thorough and transparent investigations into the circumstances surrounding the two deaths.
Memory
Recall that during the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019-2020, the decision for many Nigerians abroad to stay put, even when evacuation flights were available highlighted a deep, systemic lack of trust in the conditions waiting for them back home.
Why Many Chose Not to Return when the Nigerian government organized evacuation flights during the pandemic, thousands of citizens did register to return. However, many others actively chose to stay in their host countries due to severe concerns about Nigeria’s structural environment, which include:
Systemic Governance Issues, Insecurity and Economic Strain, I.e. Inflation and Hardship, which made returning meant facing immediate financial hardship without a social safety.
Nigeria and South Africa: Two Resource-Rich Nations, Different Economic Outcomes
Beyond the immediate diplomatic concerns, the reported killings raise a broader question: Why do Nigerians continue to seek opportunities in South Africa when Nigeria possesses enormous natural resources capable of supporting a prosperous economy?
Nigeria and South Africa are among Africa’s most resource-endowed countries. Both possess valuable minerals, energy resources, agricultural potential and large markets. Yet, the two countries have followed different economic paths, with South Africa developing stronger industrial, mining and financial systems in several areas, while Nigeria continues to struggle with infrastructure deficits, insecurity, unemployment and inadequate value addition.
Nigeria’s Natural-Resource Advantages
Nigeria is endowed with substantial crude oil and natural gas reserves, making petroleum one of the main pillars of its economy. The country also possesses deposits of coal, iron ore, limestone, gold, lead-zinc, barite, lithium and other solid minerals.
Its agricultural potential is equally significant. Nigeria has large areas suitable for cultivating rice, cassava, cocoa, maize, oil palm, rubber, cotton and other crops. Its extensive coastline, rivers and freshwater resources also offer opportunities in fisheries, maritime trade and aquaculture.
The country’s large population represents another potential economic advantage. With the right policies, a growing domestic market could support manufacturing, technology, housing, transportation, food processing and other industries.
However, the mere existence of resources does not automatically create prosperity. Weak infrastructure, insecurity, corruption, inconsistent policies, limited refining and processing capacity, and insufficient investment in human capital have prevented Nigeria from fully converting its resource wealth into broad-based employment and economic opportunity.
South Africa’s Natural-Resource Strengths
South Africa is internationally recognised for its extensive mineral wealth. It has major deposits of gold, platinum-group metals, chromium, manganese, iron ore, coal and diamonds. The country is also an important producer of other minerals used in manufacturing, construction and modern technologies.
Its mining industry has historically supported industrial development, export earnings, transport infrastructure and financial services. South Africa also has agricultural resources, a developed commercial farming sector, extensive coastline and a diversified economy that includes manufacturing, tourism, finance and services.
Unlike Nigeria, South Africa does not possess comparable crude oil and natural gas reserves. Nevertheless, it has leveraged its mineral resources and industrial capabilities to build economic sectors that generate employment and attract investment.
Its economic challenges include unemployment, inequality, electricity-supply problems, crime and social tensions. These difficulties demonstrate that natural resources alone cannot guarantee security or prosperity.
What Nigeria Can Learn
The contrast between Nigeria and South Africa suggests that the real challenge is not simply the availability of resources but how effectively they are managed.
Nigeria could create more opportunities for its citizens by investing in:
– Local processing: Refining crude oil and developing petrochemical industries instead of relying heavily on the export of raw resources.
– Solid minerals: Developing transparent mining systems and processing facilities for lithium, gold, iron ore and other minerals.
– Agriculture: Expanding irrigation, storage, food processing and agricultural value chains.
– Infrastructure: Improving electricity, roads, railways, ports and digital connectivity.
– Manufacturing: Supporting industries that transform Nigerian raw materials into finished goods.
– Human capital: Investing in education, technical training, research and entrepreneurship.
– Security and governance: Creating an environment where businesses can operate and citizens can pursue legitimate livelihoods without fear.
If these sectors were properly developed, Nigeria could reduce its dependence on foreign economies, create jobs and offer its citizens more compelling reasons to build their futures at home.
Conclusion
The reported deaths of Bishop Michael Fakunle and James Nwankwo should not be reduced to another diplomatic dispute between Nigeria and South Africa. They are a reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad and the responsibility of governments to protect their citizens.
At the same time, the situation should prompt a deeper national conversation. Nigeria possesses the resources, population and economic potential to create a more prosperous future for its people. What has often been lacking is the political will, effective leadership, accountability and sustained investment needed to unlock that potential.
Nigerians should have the freedom to travel, work and pursue opportunities anywhere in the world But leaving home should be a choice—not a necessity created by the failure to develop the resources and opportunities available within Nigeria.
