AU Summit: Shettima Warns South Africa Against Dehumanising Nigerians, Other Africans

President Bola Tinubu has warned that Nigeria will no longer tolerate the dehumanisation or mistreatment of Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.

The Nigerian leader made the position known in a message delivered by Vice President, Kashim Shettima, who condemned recurring xenophobic and Afrophobic attacks, urged South African authorities to protect lives and uphold human dignity while enforcing the country’s immigration policies.

The Vice President spoke to newsmen in Luanda, Angola, shortly before departing for Nigeria after representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union.

The Vice President said Nigeria remained committed to resolving its concerns with South Africa through dialogue and peaceful engagement.

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He, however, stressed that the Nigerian government would continue to speak out whenever the safety and dignity of its citizens were threatened.

“Those whose palm kernels were cracked by benevolent spirits should learn to be humble. We were part of the struggle for the liberation of our brothers and sisters in Southern Africa, and we feel personally pained that our people have been picked up for humiliation,” Shettima said.

The Vice President said Nigeria’s position was not aimed at escalating tensions with South Africa but at ensuring that Nigerians were treated with dignity.

“The government and people of Nigeria will no longer countenance a situation whereby our people are dehumanised and put into very, very unacceptable situations,” he said.

Shettima said Nigeria was willing to engage its South African counterparts through constructive discussions to resolve the concerns.

“But we believe in having very robust conversations with our South African brothers. We don’t want to overheat the polity, but once in a while, you have to make it very clear, vehemently clear, that certain situations are unacceptable, and we’ll work things out,” he added.

He called on South African authorities to ensure that the enforcement of immigration laws did not result in the violation of the rights, safety and dignity of Nigerians and other African nationals.

Shettima subsequently departed Luanda for Nigeria after representing President Tinubu at the AU summit.