Senators, Reps to Consider Retaliatory Measures Against South Africa

The National Assembly is expected to consider possible retaliatory measures against South Africa following ongoing anti-migrant hostilities targeting Nigerians and their businesses.

The Federal Government made the disclosure on Wednesday night

According to the government, the final decision on a pushback falls within the legislative powers of the Senate and the House of Representatives if ongoing diplomatic interventions fail to yield results.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that while the executive arm is actively engaging South African authorities through official channels, the federal lawmakers have a key constitutional role to play in determining the country’s ultimate response.

“The lawmakers have a role to play in this,” she stated during a television interview.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu noted that a policy review has become necessary because Nigerians—including those married to South Africans with children who know no other home—are being harassed and forced out of the country.

The minister pointed out the contrast in how both nations handle economic relations, highlighting that over 120 South African companies operate freely in Nigeria across multiple sectors without their staff facing identity questioning or business takeovers. She warned that the unchecked actions of anti-migrant vigilante groups are causing severe reputational damage to South Africa, staining its image as a destination for Pan-Africanism and undermining the legacy of the late Nelson Mandela.

The ongoing violence has led to cancelled concerts and conferences, with nations like Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Nigeria stepping in to evacuate their citizens.