JUST IN:House of Reps advocates for the evacuation of Nigerians from S’Africa

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Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, House of Representatives Committee on Foreign
Affairs, 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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