Saturday, September 7, 2019

September 6, 2019: Nigeria MPs talk tough on SA xenophobia

Lawmakers of Nigeria’s lower chamber of parliament, the House of Peoples Representatives, on Thursday gave a stern statement on xenophobic violence in South Africa.
Led by leader Femi Gbajabiamila, the MPs stressed the importance of protecting all citizens wherever they find themselves as much as Nigeria welcomes and respects the rights of others within its jurisdiction.
Among the major issues that he raised were as follows:
  • Demand that the federal government continues efforts to secure the interest of citizens
  • That the South African government fully probes the recent xenophobic incidents
  • That Nigerians must desist from all acts of reprisals as it affects fellow citizens most
  • Efforts to seek justice for persons affected and push for reparations
  • That federal government works towards tackling the country’s internal security issues
 

Bullet points of major incidents around the issue:

  • South Africa police operation to verify foreigners in Pretoria
  • Ghana confirms injury of three citizens, arrest of five others
  • Nigeria FM slams South African counterpart
  • Madagascar calls off friendly with South Africa
  • Air Tanzania suspends flights to South Africa
  • Anti-South Africa protests in DRC
  • Nigerian Airline to airlift citizens back home for free
  • South Africa says arrests at 289, death toll stands at 5
  • Kenya says two of its citizens were killed
  • South Africa must do more to stop xenophobia – Amnesty International
  • Nigeria issues South Africa Travel Advisory
  • Local airline, Air Peace, offers free evacuation of Nigerians
  • Nigeria pulls out of World Economic Forum on Africa, ongoing in Cape Town