The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Nigeria’s apex student body, has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African business interests operating in the country, demanding that they leave Nigeria over the continued attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa.
The directive was announced on Monday in Enugu by the National Executive Director for Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement, Bestman Okereafor. According to him, failure to comply with the ultimatum could trigger actions from millions of Nigerian students across the country.
Okereafor condemned what he described as the persistent harassment, intimidation and forced displacement of peaceful and hardworking Nigerians living in South Africa. “Our attention has been drawn to the continuous attacks and persecution of Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa. As Africa’s largest student body, we are giving South African business interests four days to vacate Nigeria”, he stated.
He stated that South African companies should not expect to operate successfully in Nigeria while Nigerians continue to suffer hostility and violence in South Africa.
NANS further warned that once the deadline expires, it may begin picketing South African businesses in Nigeria, with additional actions expected to follow. The student body also called on the Federal Government and the African Union to take stronger and more decisive steps against what it described as unfriendly actions toward Africans by South Africa.
Okereafor stressed that Nigeria had historically played a significant role in supporting South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle and argued that such support should not be repaid with hostility or disrespect.
The development follows months of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African nationals have reportedly faced assault, intimidation and in some cases loss of lives. Businesses and properties belonging to Nigerians were also reportedly vandalized or destroyed during the unrest. Reports also indicated that those responsible for the attacks had earlier issued an ultimatum directing Nigerians and other Africans to leave South Africa by June 30.
In response to the situation, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had recently facilitated the evacuation of hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa back to the country.
