The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African business interests operating in Nigeria to leave the country.
The directive was contained in a statement issued on Monday in Enugu by the association’s National Executive Director for Corporate and Private Sector Engagement, Mr Bestman Okereafor.
Okereafor said South African businesses would face actions from the student body if they failed to comply with the ultimatum.
“The attention of the apex students governing body, NANS, has been drawn to continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law abiding, peaceful and hardworking Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa.
“As the biggest students body in Africa, we are giving South African business interests four days to evacuate our beloved country, Nigeria.
“The reason for this action is simple. South Africans cannot continue to oppress and chase our people from their country and expect their businesses to thrive on our soil,” he said.
According to him, NANS would consider picketing South African business interests after the expiration of the ultimatum, with further actions to follow.
He also called on the Federal Government and the African Union to take stronger measures against South Africa over what he described as hostile actions towards other Africans.
“It is on record that Nigeria played a major role in support of South Africa during the apartheid struggle and should never be paid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” he added.
The association cited incidents of xenophobic attacks in South Africa, which it said had resulted in Nigerians and other Africans being assaulted, intimidated, injured and, in some cases, killed.
It also noted that businesses and properties owned by Nigerians in South Africa had been destroyed during previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
According to NANS, some perpetrators of the attacks had earlier issued a June 30 deadline for Nigerians and other Africans to leave South Africa.
The association further noted that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had in recent weeks facilitated the return of hundreds of Nigerians from South Africa.
