The Federal Government has indicated that any retaliatory measures Nigeria may consider against South Africa over the continued harassment and attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants could involve the National Assembly.
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this during an interview on TVC, while addressing growing concerns over the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
According to the minister, the Federal Government is currently pursuing diplomatic engagement with South African authorities but noted that lawmakers may have a constitutional role to play should the situation persist.
“The lawmakers have a role to play in this,” she said.
Odumegwu-Ojukwu stated that Nigeria had exercised restraint despite reports of harassment, intimidation and attacks targeting Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa.
“When it comes to situations like this, of course, it is necessary to be temperate and exercise caution.
“But when your citizens are being harassed, when your citizens are people who have spent years there, and mind you, some of them are married to South Africans and have children who have known no other home but South Africa, then it becomes a serious concern,” she said.
The minister alleged that some Nigerians and their South African family members were being pressured to leave the country amid the latest wave of anti-migrant actions.
She contrasted the situation with the treatment enjoyed by South African businesses operating in Nigeria.
“There are over 120 South African companies operating in Nigeria. Nobody is asking them to provide proof of identity. Nobody is asking South African staff working there whether they are South Africans or Nigerians, and nobody is taking over their shops or businesses.
“But this is happening to Nigerians in South Africa. So, I think that at some point, we really have to review the options available to us,” she said.
The minister cited major South African firms operating in Nigeria, including MTN Nigeria, MultiChoice Nigeria, Stanbic IBTC Bank and Protea Hotels.
She expressed concern that the attacks were damaging South Africa’s international reputation and undermining the legacy of Nelson Mandela.
“It is causing reputational damage, and that is quite sad because the late Madiba worked so hard to project South Africa as a bastion of Pan-Africanism.
“And in one fell swoop, these anti-migrant vigilante groups have destroyed what this man sacrificed 28 years in prison for,” she said.
According to her, the effects are already being felt through cancelled events and growing perceptions of xenophobia.
The minister also criticised the South African government’s response to the attacks, describing it as inadequate in the face of reported violence against migrants from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
On a separate issue, Odumegwu-Ojukwu disclosed that 98 Nigerians currently serving prison terms in Ethiopia would be transferred to Nigeria under an existing bilateral agreement between both countries.
She said the inmates, drawn from different regions of Nigeria, would return home to complete their jail terms in line with the agreement.
“Criminality has no ethnicity or tribe,” the minister said, noting that the affected inmates come from various parts of the country.
She added that arrangements for the transfer were already underway.
