The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African business interests operating in Nigeria, demanding that they leave the country over alleged attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
The ultimatum was announced in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by Bestman Okereafor, NANS National Executive Director for Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement.
NANS threatens protest after deadline
According to Okereafor, South African businesses could face protests by the student body if they fail to comply with the ultimatum.
He said NANS, which described itself as Africa’s largest students’ organisation, was responding to what it called the continued intimidation, attacks and displacement of law-abiding Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
“As the biggest students’ body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.
“South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” he said.
Okereafor added that the association would consider picketing South African business interests after the expiration of the deadline, alongside other actions.
Call for government and AU intervention
NANS also urged the Federal Government and the African Union (AU) to take stronger measures in response to what it described as hostile treatment of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
The association said Nigeria played a significant role in supporting South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and should not be repaid with what it described as “disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment.”
Background to the dispute
The statement referenced previous reports of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, during which Nigerians and other African nationals were reportedly assaulted, intimidated, injured and, in some cases, killed.
It also alleged that businesses owned by Nigerians in South Africa were destroyed during the attacks.
According to the statement, individuals involved in the attacks had previously issued a June 30 deadline for Nigerians and other Africans to leave South Africa.
The report further noted that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has in recent weeks evacuated hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa….See More
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