As NANS Issues Ultimatum to South Africa Businesses in Nigeria
Abuja—With about 88 Nigerians killed in South Africa between 2016 to 2019, the Federal government has sent a strong warning to the Government of South Africa to end the killings immediately.
In an emergency press conference tagged “Enough is Enough” held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa revealed that eight (8) policemen are currently being investigated in South Africa for their involvements in the killing of Nigerians.
She however stressed that the Investigation must come to an end and there must be consequences for their actions.
She also stated that the policemen that brutalized ex Big Brother Africa star, Tayo Faniran are already being investigated by the investigating body in South Africa, adding that the identity of those who killed Mrs. Elizabeth Chukwu who went to a conference and died in her hotel room in South Africa must also be revealed.
According to her, “We know that every countries have their challenges, but killing other people is not the solution to the problem. We just have to put an end to xenophobia in Africa. It is a shame that in the 21st century we are talking of Africans killing Africans when other countries are already churning out innovations, this cannot be allowed to happen.
“In Africa we are still fighting each other when India is building train over the sea, China is taking over the world, we should be ashamed of ourselves,” she said.
Speaking on what the Government has been doing to end the killings, she said that there has to be stronger policy decisions and the foreign Affairs minister will work with his counterpart in South Africa.
On the action plan, she said that the Commission has been engaging and will explore all forms of engagement, including going to South Africa to urge the country to educate its people on the impact of xenophobia.
“And then, if some body is killed, that person must be punished, nobody has been punished, so South Africa must show the political will to do it. We will continue the engagement,” she added.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) on their part has given South African businesses in Nigeria a seven days ultimatum to vacate the country, while urging Nigerians to return home.
The NANS president, Comrade Danielson Akpan who was present at the briefing, specifically asked Multichoice, MTN, Stanbic IBTC bank, Shoprite and others to close their businesses in their own interest within 7 days.
“We officially ask all South African owned businesses in Nigeria to relocate in the next 7 days.
“In the same vein, we request that South African nationals in Nigeria return to their home country as we no longer can watch them enjoy peaceful living in Nigeria while our citizens in their country continue to pay with their dear lives for no reason other than being resourceful and flourishing in their businesses and career”, Akpan stressed.
However, Dabiri-Erewa appealed to NANS to reconsider its plans to shut down South African businesses and to entrench peace.
