Nigeria to evacuate nationals from South Africa

By Abu ‘Adnan

LAGOS Nigeria (AA) - Nigeria announced plans to evacuate its nationals in South Africa on Wednesday following a wave of xenophobic attacks, signaling worsening diplomatic relations between the two African countries.

The Nigerian Foreign Ministry said a commercial airline offered to send an aircraft Friday to evacuate nationals “free or charge” who were willing to return.

“The general public is hereby advised to inform their relatives in South Africa to take advantage of this laudable gesture,” foreign ministry spokesman Ferdinand Nwonye said in a statement. “Interested Nigerians are therefore advised to liaise with the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and the Consulate General of Nigeria in Johannesburg for further necessary arrangement.”

The statement was made hours after Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said Nigeria will not cave to Pretoria.

“The South African government has to assume its responsibilities and protect Nigerians in South Africa and we have to hold them to account and they have to do that as well as pay full compensation,” he said.

Nigerians launched what appeared to be reprisals Tuesday against key South African investments. Police said dozens have been arrested for looting and attacks on South African retail and telecom firms.

Abuja has repeatedly condemned the reprisals which it insisted can only hurt Nigerians working in the affected firms.