Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has asked South Africans in Nigeria to leave the country within seven days.

The ultimatum was read during a joint press conference with Nigerians in Diaspora Commission.

In a statement read by the president of NANS who came with his contingent , Comrade Bamidele Akpan, expressed their displeasure at the killings of Nigerian students and other Nigerians in South Africa, as he called on Nigerians to come back.

Comrade Akpan said it has come to a point where decisive action will be taken to end xenophobia especially against Nigerians in South Africa.

”We have seen the helplessness of the South African government  reining in their citizens and wish to condemn in unambiguous terms the continued pampering of those involved. Every nation has her own internal crisis hence no citizen of other nation should be sacrificed for criminal activities of South Africans or any other”.

“Since the economic prosperity of Nigerians can no longer be tolerated and their lives secured in South Africa, there’s no need also to condone the continued flourishing of South African businesses and her citizens in Nigeria”.

“We therefore wish to officially ask all South African owned businesses in Nigeria to relocate in the next 7 days. We specifically want MULTICHOICE, MTN, STANBIC IBTC BANK, SHOPRITE and others to close their businesses in their own interest within 7 days. In the same vein, we request that South African nationals in Nigeria should return to their home country as we no longer can watch them enjoy peaceful living in Nigeria while our citizens in their country continue to pay with their dear lives for no reason other than being resourceful and flourishing in their businesses and career”.

“We have consistently maintained that diplomacy has failed in addressing the xenophobic question. We have heard and seen diplomatic measures put in place without any sincere action taken by the South African government. We have seen again that the people of South Africa are not committed to peaceful coexistence with other nationals hence the wanton killings and destruction of other Africans.

“We have now come to a point where action is required to safeguard Nigerians and enforce their dignity”.

In her response, the Chairman of  Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri-Erewa urged the students to allow diplomatic measures to be applied in resolving xenophobia issues in South Africa.

 ”Nigerians are known to be peaceful and humane, we should not allow ourselves to be dragged down to the level where we lose our respect for human lives”,  she advised.

She assured the students that diplomatic talks are on going and the President of Nigeria and his South African counterpart are billed to have a meeting within the next four months to discuss xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, and that the most pressing issue demanded of South Africa now is to fish out the 8 cops involved in the beat up of Tayo Faniran as well as apprehend the killers of Esther Chukwu and bring them to book.

An Ex BBA housemate, Tayo Faniran, who was battered and assaulted in South Africa, called on the students to give him a chance to end xenophobia without resorting to violence.

According to Prof. Tijani Hakeem of African Diaspora Studies National Open University of Nigeria, NOUN, the possible causes of Xenophobia  is lack of information and education on the part of young South Africans, which  account largely for the killings.

He reminded the media that Nigeria was at the forefront of the decolonisation of South Africa and that cannot be wished away.

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The Federal Government of Nigeria has set aside the 25th of July of each year in recognition of the contribution of Nigerians in the Diaspora to national development and to celebrate the Diaspora who have achieved feats in various fields of endeavor.  It is also aimed at reviewing areas requiring improvement, encourage interaction and dialogue on matters relating to the Diaspora

The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO), the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA) and the Nigerians in Diaspora Alumni Network (NiDAN) is therefore organizing the 2019  National Diaspora Day Celebrations with the Theme: The Power of the Nigerian Diaspora for National Development on the 25th of July 2019 at the PTDF Conference Hall, Central Business District, Abuja, starting at 08:00 am with Registration.

The Co-Chairman of the Local Organizing  Committee, Engr. Dr Sule Yakubu Bassi said that the Nigeria Diaspora Day 2019 will start with the arrival of delegates, accreditation and registration on July 24, while the Formal Opening and Technical Sessions will hold on July 25 at the PTDF conference Hall

Speakers slated for the conference include Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State and Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, Amb. Mustapha Suleiman, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of NIDCOM, Prof. Manny Aniebonam Chairman AfriHUB Nig Ltd, Prof. Hakeem Tijani of NOUN, Hon. Kenneth Gbandi of NIDO, Prof. Grace Adeyeye DG NAFDAC, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc, among others.

According to Dr. Bassi, The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, will declare the Diaspora Day open, which has sub-themes as “Integrating the Diaspora into the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP)’’ and “The Nigerian Diaspora: Returning to Serve’’.

Speaking on others invited to grace the occasion, the Co-Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee, Dr. Abdullahi Dauda said Corporate Bodies, relevant Ministries, some State Governors and Investors both within and outside the country are being expected.

Dr. Dauda said that this year’s Diaspora Day will focus on five major areas such as Oil and Gas, Education, Health, Agriculture and Power.

Already, registration portal had been opened in the last one month for members in the Diaspora to register and the feedback thus far, is wonderful’’, Dr. Dauda said.

Signed.
Abdur-Rahman Balogun
Media Coordinator
National Diaspora Day 2019
rahmor2001@gmail.com
+234 805 272 9751