The highest governing body of students, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African business interests in Nigeria to leave the country.
In a statement issued in Enugu on Monday, NANS National Executive Director, Cooperative and Private Sector Engagement, Mr Bestman Okerefor, said that following the expiry of the ultimatum, South African business interests will have to face the wrath of over 43.1 million Nigerian students spread across the country.
“The attention of the apex student governing body, NANS, has been drawn to the persistent attacks, intimidation and subsequent pursuit of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
“As the largest student organization in Africa, we are giving four days to South African business interests to vacate our beloved country, Nigeria.
He said, “The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress our people and drive them from their country and expect their businesses to flourish on our soil.”
NANS's National Executive Director, Collaboration and Private Sector Partnership, also said that immediately after the expiration of the ultimatum, the student body would consider holding a sit-in on behalf of South African business interests while further action was taken.
He called on the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Union to take more decisive action against South Africa for their “hostile” acts towards other Africans.
He said, “It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in supporting South Africa during the apartheid struggle and this should never be repaid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment.”
It would be recalled that for some months, Nigerians were physically attacked, embarrassed, intimidated, injured and some allegedly gruesomely murdered due to xenophobic attacks by South Africans on other Africans.
Many business interests and premises owned by Nigerians in South Africa were either completely burnt down or destroyed by irate South Africans during the xenophobic attack.
The perpetrators of these crimes had earlier given an ultimatum of June 30 to Nigerians and other Africans to leave South Africa.
The Nigerian government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had airlifted hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa back to Nigeria in recent weeks.
GIK/APA