The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to picket South African businesses operating in Nigeria, issuing a four-day ultimatum for the firms to leave the country over the alleged continued xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The students’ body warned that failure to comply with the ultimatum would trigger coordinated protests and other actions by its members nationwide.
In a statement issued on Monday in Enugu, the National Executive Director for Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement, Bestman Okereafor, said the decision was prompted by what NANS described as the persistent intimidation, assault and displacement of law-abiding Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
According to him, South African businesses should not continue to enjoy a conducive operating environment in Nigeria while Nigerians face hostility in South Africa.
“As the biggest students’ body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria. Immediately after the expiration of the ultimatum, we will consider picketing South African business interests, while further actions will follow,” he said.
Okereafor said the association’s position was a response to what it described as the continued oppression of Nigerians in South Africa, stressing that the situation had become unacceptable.
He also urged the Federal Government and the African Union to take firmer diplomatic measures against South Africa over the recurring xenophobic attacks.
NANS recalled Nigeria’s support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, arguing that such sacrifices should not be rewarded with what it described as “disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment.”
The association noted that repeated xenophobic attacks in South Africa have left many Nigerians and other Africans assaulted, intimidated, displaced and, in some cases, allegedly killed, while businesses owned by Nigerians were reportedly looted or destroyed.
It also referenced reports that perpetrators had earlier issued a June 30 deadline for Nigerians and other foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has in recent weeks facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa following the renewed wave of attacks.
