Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa: Nigeria Rejects Economic Retaliation, Chooses Diplomacy

Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has reiterated that the country will not resort to economic retaliation against South Africa despite ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian citizens.

Instead, he emphasized that diplomatic dialogue remains the most appropriate and strategic approach to resolving the tensions, noting that preserving bilateral relations is in the best interest of both nations. According to him, taking harsh economic measures against businesses operating within Nigeria would not be a favorable or productive path.

Akpabio made this position clear while responding to a proposal raised by Adams Oshiomhole, who suggested that Nigeria should consider revoking the operational licenses of South African companies, including MTN Group and MultiChoice Group (DSTV), as a form of retaliation against the attacks.

However, the proposal was rejected on procedural grounds. The Senate President maintained that while the situation is deeply concerning, economic sanctions are not the preferred response.

He assured that the Senate recognizes the gravity of the xenophobic incidents and is committed to addressing them with urgency and seriousness. As part of its response, the Senate has resolved to establish a joint ad hoc committee comprising members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

This committee, which will be led by leadership within the National Assembly, is tasked with conducting a fact-finding mission and engaging in diplomatic visits to South Africa. The goal is to identify sustainable and peaceful solutions to the crisis.

In fulfilling its mandate, the delegation is expected to engage directly with the South African Parliament to formally communicate Nigeria’s strong dissatisfaction with the reported attacks. Additionally, the Senate plans to send an official communication to the Speaker of the South African Parliament and invite Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs to provide lawmakers with updates on diplomatic engagements and progress made.

Furthermore, the upper legislative chamber upheld a motion introduced by Simon Lalong, calling for a reassessment of agreements reached during a 2019 bilateral meeting between Nigeria and South Africa. The aim is to ensure that previously agreed resolutions are fully implemented to prevent further incidents.

The resolutions followed a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Bassey Akpan, which highlighted the escalating xenophobic violence against Nigerians not only in South Africa but also in Ghana. The motion called for immediate national, diplomatic, and humanitarian actions to safeguard the dignity, safety, and rights of Nigerian citizens abroad.

During the Senate deliberations, there were differing opinions among lawmakers regarding how the issue should be handled. Adamu Aliero suggested that the matter be discussed in a closed-door session, but this was opposed by Abdul Ningi and several other lawmakers who advocated for an open debate to ensure transparency and public awareness.

Lawmakers collectively expressed serious concern not only about the physical violence faced by Nigerians abroad but also about the psychological distress, fear, and systemic discrimination they endure. They observed that many Nigerians are increasingly being singled out and targeted solely because of their nationality, leading to widespread anxiety and insecurity within diaspora communities.

In a solemn moment, the Senate observed a minute of silence in honor of Nigerians who have lost their lives due to these xenophobic attacks in South Africa, underscoring the human cost of the crisis and the urgency of finding a lasting resolution.