Xenophobia : NGIJ calls for stronger sanction on South Africa
The Nigerian Guild of investigative journalists (NGIJ) has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop handling the xenophobic attacks on innocent Nigerians in South Africa with kid gloves.
Mr. Adeyemi Obadimu, the NGIJ spokesperson in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday stressed the need for federal government to put a permanent stop on the incessant xenophobic attacks on Nigerians by imposing a stiff sanction on the South Africa’s businesses.
The NGIJ noted that these attacks have gone on for too long because South Africans have always gotten away with it.
The statement reads, “In the past 24 hours, Nigeria and Nigerians have been regaled with horrific videos and images coming out of South-Africa of xenophobic attack on Africans, especially Nigerians.
“These incessant barbaric attacks is not new and, if nothing drastic is done will still be repeated in the nearer future. It is even more worrisome and appalling that in a statement credited to the South Africa Deputy Minister of Police he had seemingly justified the attacks by questioning the rationale for the preponderance of foreign nationals in their cities. And frowned at a situation where 80% of a city is occupied by Foreign nationals.
“This statement indicts the Government of South Africa and leans credence to the general belief that the Government, and it’s agencies, are in support of this barbaric attacks.
“The NGIJ therefore call on the commander in chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammad Buhari to as a matter of urgency summon the South African Ambassador to Nigeria and read him the riot acts.
“The federal government should in a stern and succinct tone let the South Africa ambassador be aware that the country will recall her ambassador from SA if concrete action(s) to protect Nigerians and their businesses is not taken within 24hours.
“Also, considering the fact that Nigeria is a huge market for a large number of South African companies, it will make a huge sense to immediately engage South Africa in a trade war by reviewing our import policies and imposing at least 30% tariffs on all South African goods, and at the same time place new duties on about 85 billion dollars target list of South African products.
“If these is done with immediate effect the federal government would have succeeded in proving to the whole world that it is capable of protecting her own where ever they may be. “
Source: NGIJ Media
