The Federal Government has said Nigeria might consider retaliatory measures following xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa that has necessitated repatriation of those that wish to return home.
Meanwhile, the government said the repatriation flights for Nigerians, scheduled to begin today, was delayed because of documentation and screening in cooperation with South African authorities.
The screening exercise for over 1,000 Nigerian citizens in South Africa that began last Thursday was to conclude on Saturday, with the repatriation flight scheduled for today, Monday.
However, speaking with State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, said arrangements to evacuate Nigerian citizens, who want to return, are being finalised.
Asked whether Nigeria might retaliate by restricting privileges for South Africans in Nigeria, Ambassador Ojukwu did not rule out punitive responses.
She said: “Well, that is a situation that we are considering. This is up to our legislature. This is a decision that has to be taken at the highest level of government.
“But it’s not off the table.
“Nigeria is not happy because Nigeria has sacrificed much for the South African struggle for independence.
“Nigeria sacrificed quite a lot, committed funds, committed resources to aid South Africa. In schools, seats were reserved for South African students. My own generation carried placards; we demonstrated in front of South African assets.
“Sometimes we even got arrested for doing this.
“Nigeria is a serious frontline state, and Nigerians are not happy about how they have been treated. They are not asking other migrants to leave; they’re only asking black migrants to leave.”
1SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER NOW
Support MATAZ ARISING’ journalism of integrity and credibility.
Good journalism ensure the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy, and a transparent government.
We ask you to consider making a modest support to this noble endeavour.
TEXT AD: To advertise here – Email ad@matazarising.com
LATEST POSTS
-
Living Lavishly Ever After
By Wole Olaoye MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas Public office in Nigeria is, largely, a route to living lavishly ever after. You are overcompensated while in office and further spoilt in retirement after your four- or eight-year tenure. Meanwhile, civil servants who helped to run the government for 35 years retire into poverty as their meagre entitlements…
-
Nigerian students to get free data to access educational platforms – FG
MaTaZ ArIsInGDallas, Texas …moves to regulate internet access for under-16s The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled a major digital education intervention that will allow millions of Nigerian students to access approved educational platforms without paying for internet data, in a move aimed at dismantling one of the biggest barriers to technology-driven learning in the country.…
-
I’m not Obidient, not Kwankwasiyya, I’m NDC - Seriake Dickson
National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Senator Seriake Dickson, has said he does not belong to either the Obidient or Kwankwasiyya political support groups, insisting that his allegiance is to the NDC. Dickson made the clarification during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Wednesday, while speaking on the relationship between the party and…
