South African Police Say Death of Nigerian Man Not Linked to Anti-Migrant Violence

South African police ⁠said ⁠on Tuesday the ⁠death of a Nigerian man in custody late ​last month had nothing to do with a surge in anti-migrant ‌violence and that he ‌collapsed after being arrested for drug possession.

Nigeria's foreign ministry ⁠alleged ⁠on Sunday the man had died during an interrogation ​by South African police two days before nationwide rallies against undocumented migrants, threatening unspecified action if there were more attacks on its ​citizens.

"The South African Police Service strongly rejects attempts to ⁠link this ⁠incident to anti-illegal immigrant ⁠protests," ​a police spokesperson said in a statement.

The spokesperson said a police ​drugs team had ⁠arrested the Nigerian at his apartment in an intelligence-driven operation. Drugs were found at the scene, and the man collapsed while being taken into custody in a Pretoria police ⁠station, the spokesperson added.

Paramedics were called and declared him dead, ⁠and a police watchdog was notified and will investigate the incident, the spokesperson said.

South Africa's foreign ministry has said Nigeria's government should send in any evidence it has about the man's death but has not commented on the specific allegations made by its Nigerian counterpart.

The anti-migrant protests over the past few months have ⁠been mostly peaceful but at times turned violent, with attacks on foreign nationals and looting of foreign-owned shops.

Rights groups say foreigners are being used as scapegoats for ​deep-rooted problems like crime and unemployment.

By Alexander ​Winning, Reuters

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Nigeria says two nationals killed in South Africa amid rise of anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria sees no sign that anti-immigrant violence is waning in South Africa

The safety of African immigrants in South Africa is deteriorating, Nigeria’s foreign minister has warned, after two Nigerians were killed in disputed circumstances during anti-immigrant protests.

“There are no signs that the situation is improving,” Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said on Monday, while announcing more evacuation flights.

The minister demanded South African authorities investigate the deaths of two Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu, killed amid “the ongoing xenophobic protests and attacks on migrants”.

South African police said Joe’s killing did not appear to be related to the protests, but could not immediately comment on Iroegbu’s death.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry says Joe was killed in front of his shop in the northeastern city of ⁠⁠eMalahleni by unidentified criminals on June 28 , while Iroegbu was killed by South African police during interrogation in Pretoria on the same day.

In a statement on Sunday, the ministry said: “We wish to place the Government of South Africa on ‌‌notice that if the situation continues to persist, all options remain on the table, some of which will be activated if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance… against foreigners is not addressed”.

South African foreign ministry spokesman Chrispin Phiri said the government had asked Nigeria’s High Commission to submit “any actionable information to our law enforcement authorities, which will enable a thorough, objective investigation in accordance with the rule of law”.

Weeks of anti-immigrant marches

There have been weeks of protests against undocumented migrants, with many South Africans blaming workers from other African countries for taking their jobs and putting a strain on their social services.

South Africa’s government has been accused of not doing enough to crack down on the violence, which has claimed the lives of several foreigners and seen shops owned by immigrants looted and torched.

Mozambique said that five of its citizens were killed in xenophobic attacks in late May. South Africa ⁠⁠said the number was only two.

Ghana and South Africa were embroiled in a diplomatic row last week, following the killing of a Ghanaian national. The South African government said the death of Bashiru Isak was not linked to anti-immigrant protests.

Hundreds of Nigerians, among tens of thousands of foreigners, have already left South Africa, once a popular destination for documented and undocumented African immigrants due to its relatively strong economy.

Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria announced on Monday that a fourth group of Ugandan nationals were voluntarily repatriating.

South Africa has had a longstanding violent crime problem that precedes the outbreak of xenophobic violence.

By AFP and Reuters

Related story: Nigeria says two nationals killed in South Africa amid rise of anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria Dumps 120 Million Tons of Sand into Atlantic to Build Massive City with 8.4 km Sea Wall for Protection Against Ocean Waves and Erosion

Project in Lagos transforms a stretch of the Atlantic into a new urban area, combining land reclamation, planned infrastructure, and coastal defense in one of the regions most pressured by erosion in Nigeria.

Lagos, the largest city in Nigeria and one of Africa’s main economic centers, has been advancing for years with the development of Eko Atlantic, a planned city on land reclaimed from the Atlantic Ocean, next to Victoria Island.

The project had already received more than 75 million m³ of sand by June 2023, according to the consultancy Haskoning, responsible for maritime studies and projects, and was created to combine urban expansion, infrastructure, and coastal protection in a region affected by erosion and population growth.

The initiative is not a newly announced work.

The project began to be structured in the 2000s and is still under development.

The official website of Eko Atlantic states that phases 1 and 2 already have active infrastructure, including completed bridges, operational water and sewage systems, and expansion to new stages.

Rugby School Nigeria also reported that it welcomed its first class in September 2025 on the campus located within the planned city.

Eko Atlantic creates solid ground where there was once sea

Eko Atlantic was planned as an extension of Victoria Island, one of the most important areas of Lagos for business, services, and real estate ventures.

The proposal involves dredging sand from the seabed, depositing it in a designated area, and creating a new portion of solid ground capable of accommodating streets, buildings, power networks, drainage, water, sewage, telecommunications, and areas for residential and commercial use.

When completed, the city is expected to occupy about 10 million m² of reclaimed land, a size compared by Haskoning to the skyscraper district of Manhattan, in New York.

The project is developed by South Energyx Nigeria Limited, in strategic partnership with the Lagos state government, and receives support from the federal government of Nigeria, according to the official website of the venture.

The scale of the project is directly linked to the complexity of the work.

The construction is not limited to the implementation of buildings near the coast but involves creating an urban base in an area previously occupied by the sea.

The technical plan foresees 95 million m³ of sand to form the foundation of the new city.

By June 2023, two-thirds of the area had been reclaimed, with more than 6.5 million m² already formed, according to Haskoning.

CPG

Hertfordshire invention helps power homes in Nigeria

 

A small solar-powered box developed in the East of England is providing power to people in Nigeria and "transforming how they live and work".

The Powerbox SE has been developed at Hertfordshire Business School, which is part of the University of Hertfordshire, and a Nigerian manufacturer.

The project is led by Prof Hafiz Alaka, who grew up in the African country with "unreliable or non-existent electricity".

He said the box offered "a sustainable, low-cost solution".

The box is being used in remote parts of Nigeria and can power everyday items such as lights, fans, laptops and washing machines. Each one absorbs about 1,200 watt-hours of solar energy a day.

In Kaduna State, 70 units are already in use.

"Many households and small businesses are too far from the national grid to access power, and this affects everything from trade to communication and education," said Alaka, associate dean in research and enterprise at the business school and director of the Big Data Technologies and Innovation laboratory.

"It runs entirely on clean solar energy, has no running costs and is made from components that can be sourced locally in Nigeria.

"It's built for Africa's environment and for Africa's people."

Amina Yusuf, who runs a grocery shop in Kaduna, said: "I can keep my shop open after sunset, my children can study at night, and I've reduced my fuel costs significantly.

"It has transformed how we live and work."

Bala Ibrahim, a teacher in a rural village, said it "allows my students to study after dark and keeps our community connected".

Alaka added: "This product is starting to bring people together in a way no other technology can – sustainably, affordably and through a locally made product.

"With investment, we can extend access to clean energy to millions who have never had reliable electricity before."

By Alex Pope, BBC

Related story: Video - Nigerian manufacturers struggle with rising electricity costs

Nigeria says two nationals killed in South Africa amid rise of anti-migrant attacks

Nigeria says two of its citizens have been killed in South Africa "at a time when foreigners are being unduly targeted" there.

A statement from the foreign ministry said Emeka Charles Iroegbu was "reportedly killed" on 28 June by police officers "using gruesome interrogation techniques", while unidentified assailants had killed shop owner Musa Yunana Joe on the same day.

The authorities in South Africa's capital, Pretoria, say they are investigating.

Nigeria's foreign ministry said the incidents came amid a rise in anti-migrant sentiment in South Africa, which has led to roughly 25,000 citizens from other African countries being repatriated by their nations, including some 700 Nigerians.

Protesters in South Africa have urged the government to do more to curb illegal migration. They say foreigners are taking jobs and unfairly benefiting from public services.

In its statement, Nigeria's foreign ministry said Iroegbu was reportedly killed in Pretoria by officers from the Tshwane Metro police department.

The South African body that investigates police conduct told the BBC on Monday the Iroegbu case was reported to it last week and that "our investigation is underway".

Joe, killed on 28 June, was attacked outside his shop in the city of eMalahleni, the ministry said.

Abuja said it was placing the South African government "on notice" and that "all options remain on the table... if the uncultured and provocative trend of intolerance and apartheid-style behaviour of South Africa against foreigners is not addressed".

Nigeria has said it will seek compensation from South Africa for its citizens who have left the country, adding that Abuja had begun documenting businesses and properties left behind by Nigerians.

However, at a media briefing on Friday, South African cabinet minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said her government would not pay compensation and that Nigerians can sell registered properties they left behind on the South African market.

She also said: "We would be interested to know where the drug dens of Nigerians are, so they can show us where they have been holding the drugs so we can clean the drugs in South Africa quite urgently."

Nigeria's foreign ministry strongly condemned this comment in their statement on Sunday, calling it "unacceptable".

"Such derogatory, unprofessional and uncensored generalised public statements by highly placed government officials constitute hate speech," the ministry said.

Nigeria's foreign ministry also accused protest groups in South Africa, including March on March and Operation Dudula, of inciting violence and hatred against other Africans.

It warned that those responsible could face regional and international legal action, though it is unclear steps Nigeria would take and whether it plans to raise the issue with the African Union.

Some anti-migrant groups in South Africa had given undocumented foreigners a deadline of 30 June to leave the country.

Ghana, Malawi and Nigeria are among African countries which repatriated some of their citizens ahead of the deadline.

South Africa has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the world - at more than 30% - and anti-migrant sentiment has been rising in recent months.

The continent's most developed economy remains a magnet for people from poorer countries seeking work often in low-paid jobs.

By Makuochi Okafor, BBC

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Nigeria evacuates citizens from South Africa as anti-migrant sentiment rises