The House of Representatives has asked the federal government to suspend all bilateral agreements with South Africa over the recent xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in the former apartheid country.
The green chamber passed the resolution during Tuesday’s
plenary following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance
sponsored by Donald Ojogo, lawmaker representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo federal
constituency in Ondo state.
At least two Nigerians have been killed since anti-immigrant
tensions escalated in South Africa last month.
Leading the debate on the motion, Ojogo said the xenophobic
violence has reached an “alarming rate”, adding that Nigerians are being
“selectively targeted” in South Africa.
The lawmaker said the two Nigerians killed in South
Africa—identified as Ekpenyong Andrew and Amaramiro Emmanuel—died in separate
incidents.
He said Andrew was arrested on April 19 in Pretoria
following an alleged altercation with police officers, and his body was later
found in a morgue, while Emmanuel died from injuries sustained after being
beaten by personnel of the South African National Defence Force on April 20.
“Both incidents were shocking as they involved South African
security personnel,” the lawmaker said.
He said the “targeted attacks” against Nigerian nationals
are a “demonstration of ingratitude”, considering the roles Nigeria played in
the struggle against apartheid in South Africa.
“The trajectory in South Africa is a recipe for anger and
reprisals in Nigeria, and there is a need to prevent such,” he said.
Benjamin Kalu, the deputy speaker who presided over plenary,
said Nigeria occupy a “very significant position” in Africa and has supported
“many nations to be stronger than they are today”.
“An attack on any Nigerian anywhere is an attack on
Nigerians everywhere. It ought not to be so,” he said.
“Nigerians did not allow the apartheid masters to suppress
South Africans. South Africans who are liberated should not put other Africans
in their territory in bondage. These are facts.”
The motion was
adopted after Kalu called for a voice vote.
Following that, the house asked the federal government to
“review all bilateral agreements with South Africa, trade and aviation
treaties, targeted economic measures, including temporary suspension of
issuance of business permits to new South African companies and a review of tax
incentives enjoyed by existing South African firms in Nigeria”, pending
demonstrable steps by the country to halt the attacks, prosecute perpetrators
and compensate victims.
The house also mandated the committees on foreign affairs,
diaspora and cooperation and integration in Africa to liaise with the Nigerian
high commission in Pretoria to establish a 24-hour emergency response desk and
legal aid fund for distressed Nigerians in South Africa.
The house further mandated the committee to work with the
federal government to develop and publicise a comprehensive evacuation
contingency plan for Nigerians in volatile provinces, including financial and
logistical support for those willing to return home.
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