Four-Day Ultimatum: NANS Rattles South African Business Interests in Nigeria
By Matthew Eloyi
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the country’s apex student body, has issued a hard-hitting four-day ultimatum to South African business interests operating in Nigeria, demanding their exit amid renewed outrage over xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
In a statement released on Monday in Enugu, Mr. Bestman Okereafor, National Executive Director, Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement of NANS, said the decision was taken in response to what the body described as sustained hostility against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
Okereafor warned that failure to comply with the directive would trigger mass action from Nigeria’s student population, which he estimated at over 43.1 million nationwide.
“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.
“As the biggest students body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.
“The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” he said.
The NANS leader further cautioned that once the ultimatum expires, the association would consider picketing South African-owned businesses across Nigeria, with additional actions to follow.
He also urged the Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Union (AU) to adopt stronger measures against what he termed “inimical” conduct by South Africa.
“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” he added.
The development comes against the backdrop of recurring xenophobic violence in the Republic of South Africa, where attacks on foreign nationals over recent months have left Nigerians and other Africans assaulted, injured, and in some reported cases killed. Several Nigerian-owned businesses were also destroyed during the unrest.
In a troubling cycle of retaliation and displacement, earlier incidents had seen South Africans issue ultimatums to foreigners, including Nigerians, to leave their country.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the Federal Government, has in recent weeks facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa back home, underscoring the escalating diplomatic and humanitarian concerns surrounding the crisis.
