The House of Representatives says diplomatic efforts to address renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa are beginning to yield positive results, amid reports that more than 176,000 people have left the country in recent weeks.
Hundreds of Nigerians have returned home since the latest wave of xenophobic attacks.
The deputy spokesman of the House of Representatives, Philip Agbese, says Nigeria’s diplomatic efforts with South Africa over xenophobic attacks are “making good impacts”.
Agbese spoke on Monday when he was featured as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
When asked if Nigeria should have taken stricter measures over the attacks on the country’s citizens in South Africa, Agbese said, “No, I think so far, you know, the diplomatic engagements that we have activated are making a good impact.”
He said Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, is also engaging the South African government over the matter.
“And today, to the glory of God, we now have a group of South African people running the Ubuntu movement. The Ubuntu movement is about peace in Africa. It is about love,” he said.
According to him, people migrate for various reasons and not mainly because of “hardship”.
“Well, like I’ve mentioned earlier, it is actually a big issue for South Africa and a big issue for the countries whose nationals are finding solace in leaving their own countries for other countries,” he said about the xenophobic attacks.
The renewed wave of xenophobic attacks has seen more than 176,000 people leave South Africa in recent weeks, according to an AFP tally which is based on figures provided by African countries that have repatriated their nationals.
At least four migrants have been killed in the violence, according to the South African police, though some foreign governments say the death toll is higher.
Ghana, which has been an outspoken critic of the fatal attacks, has called for an African Union debate on the anti-migrant violence at the next AU summit early next year.
Nigeria, which has also clashed diplomatically with South Africa over recurring attacks on its citizens, has likewise pushed to put the issue on the AU’s agenda.
Nigeria has evacuated 1,490 nationals from South Africa, while Ghana has repatriated at least 926.
