Nigeria won’t severe diplomatic ties with South Africa – FG – TheNigerialawyer

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
report

Onyeama, who stated this on Friday when he appeared before the
Senate Committee on Disapora, 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, 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 talking 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.”

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