The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a four-day ultimatum to South African businesses operating in Nigeria, demanding that they leave the country over the alleged continued attacks on Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
The ultimatum was contained in a statement released on Monday by the association’s National Executive Director for Corporate and Private Sectors Engagement, Bestman Okereafor.
Okereafor said South African business interests would face mass protests by Nigerian students if they failed to comply with the directive after the four-day deadline.
“The attention of the apex students’ governing body, NANS, has been drawn to the continuous attacks, intimidation and subsequent chase of law-abiding, peaceful and hard-working Nigerians and other Africans from South Africa,” he said.
“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.”
The student body warned that it would begin picketing South African businesses across Nigeria once the ultimatum expires, adding that further actions would be announced if necessary.
NANS also urged the Federal Government and the African Union to take stronger measures against South Africa over what it described as persistent hostile treatment of Nigerians and 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 repaid with disloyalty, disrespect and global embarrassment,” Okereafor added.
The latest threat follows renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks in South Africa, where Nigerians and other African nationals have reportedly been assaulted, intimidated, injured and, in some cases, killed.
During previous outbreaks of xenophobic violence, several businesses and properties owned by Nigerians in South Africa were looted, vandalized or set ablaze.
The development also comes after reports that those behind the attacks issued a June 30 deadline for Nigerians and other African nationals to leave South Africa.
In response to the situation, the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recently evacuated hundreds of stranded Nigerians from South Africa.