Geoffrey Onyeama
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has said that
the country would not severe diplomatic ties with South Africa following
the current xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, Punch Metro reports.
Onyeama, who stated this on Friday when he appeared before the Senate
Committee on Diaspora, said taking such action would not be in the
interest of Nigerians in South Africa.
He said available statistics from the Nigeria High Commission in
Pretoria indicated that over 800, 000 Nigerians are legally living in
the South African country.
He noted that any attempt by the country to cut diplomatic relationship
with the former apartheid nation, would greatly affect Nigerians and
their huge investment there.
He said the special envoys dispatched to Johannesburg by President
Muhammadu Buhari would return to Nigeria on Saturday (tomorrow ).
He explained that their report would guide the Nigerian leader to take a decisive action in the overall interest of the country.
Onyeama, who briefed journalists after a meeting with the Senate panel
led by Senator Bashir Ajibola, said Nigeria would consider other options
apart from diplomatic ties severance, to resolve the unfortunate
development.
He said, “We are not thinking to the stage of diplomatic ties called
off. There are various options. We are not by any means at a stage
where we are breaking diplomatic relations with South Africa.
“We just met with the senate committee to review the situation with
regards to South Africa and we looked at all the possible options we
analysed the possible causes and agreed on a road map going forward.
“Part of that road map on the executive side Mr. President has
dispatched a special envoy to South Africa who would be holding
discussion with the South African government at the very highest level.
“He (leader of the envoy) should be back tomorrow (Saturday), that will
now give the government the basis for further action. In the mean time,
if the government is very much on top of the situation.
“We know for a fact that no Nigerian life has been lost so we are
extremely concerned now to ensure that there will be adequate
compensation for property that have been damaged.
“We know that a Nigerian Airline is putting a plane at the disposal of
most Nigerians that wish to take the opportunity to leave South Africa,
this is purely voluntary, but we are particularly determined to
particularly make sure that this crisis does not re-occur.
It has been happening for far too long, its becoming almost endemic, so
with the distinguished senators, are helping with some of the options
that we may have to ensure that this will be the last time we will ever
be meeting to talk about Nigerians attacked in South Africa and to take
definitive measures.
“To start doing that, we want to have all the facts available and then we will take the necessary measures.”