KEY POINTS

• South Africa’s consul-general, Bobby Moroe, said visa applications from Nigerians have almost doubled in recent months.
• He insisted South Africa remains safe and open, and dismissed claims that its missions stopped issuing visas as untrue.
• The comments follow xenophobic attacks that prompted Nigeria to repatriate more than 1,400 citizens.

Visa applications from Nigerians to South Africa have almost doubled in recent months despite persistent reports of xenophobic attacks, South Africa’s Consul-General in Nigeria, Prof. Bobby Moroe, has said.

Moroe spoke on Nigeria Info FM on Sunday and insisted that South Africa remains safe and open for tourism, business and other travel. Moreover, he said the South Africa visa applications surge shows that Nigerians still view the country as a viable destination.

Envoy insists the country is safe

The reassurance came amid renewed concern over attacks in South Africa, where assailants have targeted Nigerians and other African migrants in pockets of violence across Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and parts of the Western Cape. According to reports, claims of job competition and criminality often fuel the violence, which has led to looting of foreigner-owned shops, assaults and forced displacements. Consequently, the unrest sparked outrage in Nigeria and across the continent, and the federal government said it repatriated more than 1,400 Nigerians who felt unsafe or found themselves stranded.

Still, Moroe dismissed online claims that South African missions in Nigeria had stopped issuing visas, calling the reports untrue. Furthermore, he said the country stays open for business, tourism and every other kind of visit, and he stressed that travel there remains safe. In his words, the near-doubling of applications proved that demand had held firm despite the headlines.

Advice for prospective travellers

Moroe urged Nigerians to obtain the right visas before they leave and to respect South Africa’s immigration laws. In addition, he asked travellers to learn the country’s laws, understand their rights and know where to find law enforcement agencies in an emergency. Therefore, he framed careful preparation as part of being a good ambassador for Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Consul-General said he expected bilateral visits between the two countries to keep growing, since South Africa values its relationship with Nigeria. That confidence, he suggested, matches the rising demand he described, even as safety worries persist. The gap between those fears and the travel interest underlines how strong the ties between the two nations remain.