By Adesina Soyooye
The Nigerian Government has expressed concern at the treatment South Africans are giving Nigerians in their country. The Federal Government, in its first comprehensive response to the Xenophobic attacks on Africans in South Africa by South Africans expressed its worry that neither the South African Government nor its Police has responded adequately to the attacks, especially against Nigerians, many of whom have been harassed, killed, intimidated, lost their businesses and homes and in some cases, injured.
Expressing shock at these humiliating treatments Nigeria’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the Nigerian Government was seriously considering retaliatory measures against South Africa.
To show its seriousness, President Bola Tinubu has decided to deploy the Presidential Jet to bring his long-suffering subjects home from South Africa.
Because of the Xenophobic attacks which has kept escalating, the Nigerian Government has concluded plans for the evacuation of more than 1,000 of its citizens from South Africa.
Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu, also, said Nigeria was reviewing its options in response to the persistent targeting of Nigerians.
She said: “It’s (retaliation) not off the table. That is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature. This is up to the highest level of government.
“Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds and resources to aid South Africa.
“In schools, seats were reserved for South African students. My own generation carried placards and demonstrated in front of South African assets.
“Sometimes, we were even arrested for doing this.
“Nigerians are not happy about how they have treated us. They are not asking other migrants to leave; they are only asking black migrants to leave.”
The claims by some South African authorities that Nigerians seeking evacuation were illegal migrants was rejected by Ambassador Odumegwu-Ojukwu who described the allegation as not only false but misleading.
“That is absolutely untrue. Our citizens are being harassed, their properties are being looted, and criminal actions are being perpetrated against them.
“The police refuse to do anything. The South African government has not come out strongly or firmly enough to condemn these incidents.”
She, also, disclosed that President Bola Tinubu has directed that a presidential aircraft be deployed to bring home Nigerians willing to return.
She said: “It wasn’t actually supposed to have started today (Monday).
“It is just that we were supposed to have rounded off the formalities today.
“The repatriation is on course. Mr. President himself has reiterated the fact that his aircraft must go to South Africa.
“Our citizens who are imperilled will have the chance of getting on this aircraft to be brought back to
their country.”
She disclosed that many of those affected were legitimate business owners whose shops had been looted or set ablaze, while others faced intimidation.
“People who are doing legitimate businesses have their shops looted and set on fire.
“Children cannot go to school because they are intimidated.
“So, to say that Nigerians in South Africa who are conducting legitimate business are illegal migrants is absolutely untrue.
“This evacuation is being undertaken with NEMA. We are working with various government agencies and departments to ensure that once they return, they can be rehabilitated and properly reintegrated,” the Minister said.
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