From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Barely a day after Nigeria formally reported recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks in South Africa to the African Union (AU), the Federal Government has again talked tough, declaring that it will no longer tolerate the dehumanisation and humiliation of its citizens in the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima issued the warning in Luanda, Angola, shortly before departing for Nigeria after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the AU.
Speaking with journalists, Shettima said although Nigeria remained committed to dialogue and peaceful engagement with South Africa, it would no longer keep silent whenever the dignity, safety and rights of Nigerians were threatened.
“Those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble. We were part of the struggle for the liberation of our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, and we feel personally pained that our people have been picked up for humiliation,” he said.
Shettima said Nigeria’s historical role in the liberation of Southern Africa made the reported mistreatment of its citizens particularly painful.
“The government and people of Nigeria will no longer countenance a situation whereby our people are dehumanised and put into very, very unacceptable situations,” he declared.
The Vice President, however, said Nigeria was not seeking to escalate tensions with South Africa, insisting that dialogue remained the preferred option for resolving the concerns.
“But we believe in having very robust conversations with our South African brothers. We don’t want to overheat the polity, but once in a while, you have to make it very clear, vehemently clear, that certain situations are unacceptable, and we’ll work things out,” he said.
His comments came barely 24 hours after President Tinubu took Nigeria’s concerns over recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks to the AU, calling for urgent continental intervention.
Tinubu, in a message delivered by Shettima at the AU extraordinary summit, asked the continental body to place the matter on the agenda of its 40th Ordinary Session scheduled for January 2027 for consideration and appropriate action.
Nigeria had told the summit that while it recognised South Africa’s sovereign right to enforce its immigration laws, attacks on Africans and other foreign nationals undermined African solidarity, unity and peaceful coexistence.
The President also urged African leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the safety, protection and dignity of African nationals and called for stronger continental efforts against xenophobia and Afrophobia.
Shettima similarly condemned attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals, urging South African authorities to ensure the protection of lives and uphold human dignity in enforcing the country’s immigration laws.
Nigeria maintained that immigration enforcement must be carried out within the law and without violence, discrimination or humiliation of foreign nationals.
The Vice President has since returned to Nigeria after concluding his engagements in Angola.
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