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.
