The National Association of Nigerian Students has issued a four day ultimatum to South African businesses operating in Nigeria to leave the country, citing the continued attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by the National Executive Director, Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement of NANS, Bestman Okereafor.
Okereafor said the student body took the decision following what it described as persistent attacks, intimidation and forced displacement of law abiding Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
He warned that South African business interests in Nigeria would face the wrath of more than 43.1 million Nigerian students if they failed to comply with the ultimatum.
He said, “As the biggest student 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.”
Okereafor added that after the expiration of the deadline, NANS would consider picketing South African businesses across Nigeria, while other actions would follow.
The association also called on the Federal Government and the African Union to take stronger measures against South Africa over what it described as hostile treatment of Nigerians and other Africans.
According to him, Nigeria played a significant role in supporting South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should not be repaid with “disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment.”
NANS recalled that repeated xenophobic attacks in South Africa had left many Nigerians physically assaulted, intimidated, injured and, in some cases, allegedly killed.
The group further alleged that businesses and properties belonging to Nigerians in South Africa were destroyed during the attacks, adding that the perpetrators had earlier issued a June 30 deadline for Nigerians and other Africans to leave the country.
It also noted that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had in recent weeks evacuated hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa.
The statement comes amid renewed concerns over the safety of Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa.
(NAN)
