Senator Abdul Ningi has condemned the recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, describing the situation as “unacceptable and worsening.”
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly, Ningi lamented that despite Nigeria’s historic role in ending apartheid, South Africans continue to target and kill fellow Africans without meaningful condemnation from their government.
“Although xenophobic attacks are not new, they have taken another dangerous dimension,” he said.”
The Senator criticized the National Assembly for waiting on the federal government before taking decisive action, arguing that Nigeria must defend its citizens abroad with the same urgency shown by other nations.
“The United States will never allow any country to kill a single citizen without going to war. If these killings were directed at prominent Nigerians or their children, our government would have acted swiftly, and if we talk some people would say we are opposing the government because we are from the opposition party”. Ningi declared.
He revealed that he had shown videos of the attacks to the Senate President, who declined to watch them.
“If I were the president, I would have threatened war with South Africa and ordered the repatriation of all South Africans in Nigeria,” he added.
Ningi said the establishment of a joint committee between the two chambers will go a long way in liaising with South Africa’s parliament to address the crisis.
He noted that South African businesses such as MTN and DStv operate extensively in Nigeria, stressing that bilateral ties must be re-examined in light of the violence.
