• Fourth batch of 282 Nigerians arrive Lagos
The House of Representatives have condemned the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa, but rejected calls by some lawmakers to immediately suspend diplomatic relations with Madiba’s country.
However, the fourth batch of Nigerians returning from South Africa arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight.
The House resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), who decried “persistent violence, unlawful arrests, extrajudicial killings and the persecution of Nigerians” in South Africa.
Moving the motion during plenary, Gagdi said repeated xenophobic attacks had claimed innocent lives, destroyed businesses and forced many Africans to flee despite years of diplomatic engagement between Nigeria and South Africa.
He said recent reports indicated a fresh wave of attacks against Nigerians, as well as citizens of Ghana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and other African countries legally residing in South Africa.
According to him, the Nigerian government recently confirmed the death of two Nigerians, including one who reportedly died in the custody of the South African police and another who was allegedly murdered outside his business premises. He said the latest incidents showed that Nigerians remained vulnerable despite repeated assurances by the South African government that foreign nationals would be protected.
He warned that the recurring attacks had become systematic and increasingly deadly, blaming the failure to prosecute perpetrators for encouraging a culture of impunity
Co-sponsor of the motion, Billy Osawaru (APC, Edo), said that although the Federal Government had facilitated the evacuation of about 856 Nigerians from South Africa following an earlier House resolution, the latest killings showed that South African authorities had failed to protect foreign nationals.
He proposed that Nigeria suspend political, diplomatic and parliamentary engagements with South Africa, including trade, investment and economic diplomacy, until concrete measures were taken to halt the attacks.
But Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, urged caution, saying such a far-reaching decision should not be taken without first establishing the facts.
“We cannot suspend diplomatic relations now until we carry out our investigation and establish the facts,” Kalu said.
When the proposal was put to a voice vote, the majority of lawmakers rejected it.
ACCORDING to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Air Peace flight conveyed 284 passengers, comprising 272 adults and 12 infants, alongside two government officials.
The latest arrival marks another phase of the Federal Government’s voluntary evacuation exercise for Nigerians returning from South Africa.
Officials of relevant government agencies received the returnees on arrival and have commenced documentation and other reception procedures, while support services are being provided to facilitate their reintegration.
In a statement issued is spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the ministry noted that the fourth repatriation flight landed at the MMIA at 7.30 p.m.
The latest operation forms part of the Federal Government’s continuing effort to bring home Nigerians who opted to leave South Africa following recent xenophobic attacks and heightened security concerns.
