.As FG tells citizens to leave S/Africa, evacuates 270 Wednesday
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the apex students’ governing body, has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African business interests in Nigeria to leave the country.
This was contained in a statement on Monday in Enugu, by Mr Bestman Okereafor, NANS National Executive Director, Cooperate and Private Sectors Engagement.
Okereafor said that after the expiration of the ultimatum, South African business interests would face the wrath of the more than 43.1 million Nigerian students scattered over the country.
The statement read in part: “The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.
“As the biggest students body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.
“The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” he said.
The NANS national executive director, cooperate and private sectors engagement also said that immediately after the expiration of the ultimatum, the student body would consider picketing South Africa business interests, while further actions follow.
He called on the Federal Government and the African Union to take more decisive actions against South Africa for their ”inimical” acts towards other Africans.
“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” he added.
It will be recalled that xenophobic attack by South Africans on other Africans for some months had led to Nigerians being physically assaulted, embarrassed, intimidated, injured and some allegedly gruesomely murdered.
Several business interests and premises owned by Nigerians in South Africa were either completely burnt down or destroyed by rampaging South Africans during the xenophobic attack.
The perpetrators of these crimes had earlier given Nigerians and other Africans an ultimatum of June 30 to leave South Africa.
The Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had in recent weeks airlifted hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa back to Nigeria. (NAN)
.As FG tells citizens to leave S/Africa, evacuates 270 Wednesday
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians in South Africa who fear for their safety to take advantage of its final evacuation flights, warning that there are “no signs that the situation is improving” amid ongoing xenophobic attacks that have claimed the lives of two Nigerians.
In a statement released on Monday, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said Nigeria remained deeply concerned about the safety of its citizens following the “ongoing Xenophobic protests and attacks of migrants.”
“Nigeria remains concerned about the safety of it’s citizens in South Africa as a result of the ongoing Xenophobic protests and attacks of migrants, and even more so following the deaths of 2 Nigerians, Musa Yunana Joe and Charles Iroegbu during these unfortunate events,” she said.
The minister said Nigeria had demanded action from South African authorities.
“We demand that South African authorities urgently investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice, and are urging our citizens who consider their lives at risk to take advantage of the FG sponsored evacuation flights to be transported home.”
She disclosed that President Bola Tinubu had extended the evacuation programme beyond its initial June 30 deadline, with a fourth evacuation flight arriving in Nigeria on July 3.
“Another evacuation flight will leave for Johannesburg tomorrow Tuesday 7th July to bring home our citizens,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said, adding that “the last evacuation flight is expected to arrive South Africa on 10th July.”
She urged Nigerians who have yet to decide whether to leave to carefully assess the risks.
“Our Nationals are again advised to weigh the risks regarding whether to remain or return.”
Addressing those reluctant to leave, the minister said: “For many still sitting on the fence, they should do well to note that properties and investments lost can be replaced, but not lives lost.”
She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, saying, “The Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to the safety and welfare of it’s citizens abroad, and will put all necessary measures in place to protect it.”
Earlier, the FG said it had concluded arrangements to evacuate 270 Nigerians from South Africa as part of its ongoing repatriation exercise for citizens willing to return home.
The returnees are expected to arrive at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, in the early hours of Wednesday aboard an Air Peace aircraft deployed for the evacuation.
The latest evacuation follows the Federal Government’s continued efforts, through the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and other relevant agencies, to facilitate the voluntary return of Nigerians facing various challenges in South Africa.
