The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African businesses operating in Nigeria, demanding that they leave the country over alleged ongoing attacks on Nigerians and other African citizens in South Africa.
The ultimatum was given in a statement issued on Monday by the association’s National Executive Director, Corporate and Private Sector Engagement, Bestman Okarefor.
Okerefor said South African business interests would face massive protests by Nigerian students if they failed to comply with the directive after the four-day deadline.
“The attention of NANS, the apex students’ governing body, has been drawn to the persistent attacks, intimidation and subsequent pursuit of law-abiding, peaceful and hard-working Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa,” he said.
“As the largest organization of students in Africa, we are giving four days to South African business interests to vacate our beloved country, Nigeria. The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people out of their country and expect their businesses to flourish on our soil.”
The student body warned that it would begin picketing South African businesses across Nigeria once the ultimatum expired, adding that further action would be announced if necessary.
NANS also urged the federal government and the African Union to take stronger steps against South Africa over what it described as its continued hostile treatment of Nigerians and other Africans.
“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,” Okarefor said.
The latest threat follows new concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African citizens have reportedly been attacked, intimidated, injured and, in some cases, killed.
During previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence, many businesses and properties owned by Nigerians in South Africa were looted, vandalized or set on fire.
The development comes after reports that those behind the attacks had issued a June 30 deadline for Nigerians and other African nationals to leave South Africa.
In response to the situation, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently evacuated hundreds of stranded Nigerians from South Africa.