The Federal Government has expressed plans to consider retaliatory measures against South Africa over the treatment of Nigerians living in the country, even as arrangements for the evacuation of citizens willing to return home have been finalized.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this in Abuja, on Monday during an interview with newsmen.
The minister, while responding to a question on whether Nigeria was considering retaliation,
said, “Well, that is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature. This is up to the highest.
“This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government, but it’s not off the table.”
“Nigeria is not happy with South Africa. Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence. Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds, committed resources to aid South Africa,” she stated.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu recalled that Nigeria played a frontline role in supporting South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, including providing educational opportunities for South African students and supporting advocacy efforts against the apartheid regime.
And Nigerians are not happy about how they have treated us,” she added.
The minister rejected claims that Nigerians affected by the situation were largely illegal migrants, insisting that many were legitimate business owners and residents.
“That is absolutely untrue. Citizens are being harassed. Citizens, their properties are being looted. Criminal actions are perpetuated on our citizens,” she said.
According to her, some Nigerians have had their businesses attacked and properties destroyed.
“People who are doing legitimate business have their shops looted. They have their shops set on fire,” she said.
On the evacuation process, the minister noted that the repatriation programme remained on course, despite ongoing documentation and screening procedures involving both Nigerian and South African authorities.
“Mr. President himself has reiterated the fact that this aircraft must come to South Africa. And our citizens who are imperilled will have the chance of getting on this aircraft to be brought back to their country,” she said.
The minister disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had directed the establishment of a crisis response unit within Nigeria’s diplomatic missions in South Africa to coordinate assistance for affected citizens.
She added that the evacuation exercise was being carried out in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency and other government agencies to ensure that returnees receive adequate support and rehabilitation.
In a related development, South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa in a nationwide address on Sunday, reiterated his government’s commitment to lawful migration management, stressing that violence, intimidation and xenophobia have no place in the country.
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