The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria, demanding that they leave the country over the continued xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
The warning was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by the National Executive Director for Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement of NANS, Bestman Okereafor.
According to Okereafor, the student body would mobilise its estimated 43.1 million members across Nigeria to take action against South African business interests if the ultimatum expires without compliance.
He said the decision followed persistent reports of attacks, intimidation and forced displacement of law-abiding Nigerians and other African nationals living in South Africa.
“The attention of the apex students’ governing body, NANS, has been drawn to the continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of peaceful, hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa,” Okereafor 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 while expecting their businesses to thrive on our soil.”
He warned that once the four-day deadline expires, NANS would begin picketing South African-owned businesses across Nigeria and consider additional measures aimed at expressing its opposition to the treatment of Nigerians in South Africa.
The association also called on the federal government and the African Union to adopt stronger diplomatic and political measures against South Africa over what it described as hostile actions toward fellow Africans.
Okereafor recalled Nigeria’s historic role in supporting South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, arguing that the country’s sacrifices should not be rewarded with hostility.
“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in supporting South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be repaid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” he said.
The latest development comes amid renewed concerns over xenophobic violence in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African nationals have reportedly faced physical assaults, intimidation, injuries and, in some cases, killings.
During previous waves of xenophobic unrest, several businesses and properties owned by Nigerians were looted, vandalised or set ablaze by violent mobs.
The tension escalated after reports that some South African groups issued an ultimatum directing Nigerians and other foreign African nationals to leave the country by June 30.
In response to the situation, the federal government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has in recent weeks facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of stranded Nigerians from South Africa back to Nigeria.
