Chairperson, House of Representatives Committee on
Foreign Affairs, Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, has called for the
evacuation of Nigerians within 24 hours from South Africa
owing to ongoing attacks on non-indigenes.
Ukeje (PDP-Abia) made the appeal in a phone interview
with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Ibadan.
She said the call was necessary because of increasing
attacks on Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike in South
Africa.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria should rise up to the
occasion by having contingency plans to evacuate
Nigerians within 24 hours to avoid us losing our citizens to
these attacks.
“It is expedient to think of where all Nigerians can gather
within 24 hours for safety either in our embassy or mission
for the safety of our citizens,” she said.
The lawmaker suggested that a concrete arrangement with
some airlines should be made to evacuate Nigerians back
home.
She also urged the National Emergency Management
Agency to equally mobilise to take care of the returnees.
Ukeje noted with concern that the xenophobia was
degenerating to Afrophobia as many black Africans,
including Nigerians, were being attacked from
Johannesburg to Durban.
She advised the Nigerian government against delay till
some of her citizens are killed in the latest attacks before
implementing its citizen diplomacy policy.
“Unfortunately, there is no serious condemnation from
South Africa government on this attacks, hence the need for
Nigerian government to be proactive and rescue her
citizens as soon as possible,” she said.
She expressed surprise that South Africa that housed
African Parliament and other institutions of Africa in the
continent could descend so low to the extent of her
nationals attacking other Africans living in that country.
Ukeje said her committee was in close contact with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see what could be done to
protect Nigerians in South Africa, while the House is to
engage relevant stakeholders on the matter.
Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on
Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, also told NAN on the
telephone that a motion on the issue would be tabled
during the plenary session of the House.
Dabiri-Erewa (APC-Lagos) condemned the attacks on
Nigerians living in South Africa, saying it was disgusting for
South Africans to be treating Nigerians like that despite
Nigeria’s role during the apartheid struggle.
NAN reports that Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of State
II, for Foreign Affairs, has said that no Nigerian was killed in
the attack against foreigners in South Africa.
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