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Fate of Nigerians
in South Africa
By Sun News Publishing
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Recent reports have, once again, brought to the fore the
vexed issue of the inhuman treatment which many Nigerians
in South Africa are subjected to by the country’s authorities.
Recently, members of the House of Representatives had cause
to review the situation and came up with the conclusion that
all was not well with the way Nigerians are being treated
in the former apartheid enclave.
Attention was, for instance, drawn to the way Nigerians are
screened, scrutinized, harassed and intimidated at the point
of entry at Oliver Thambo Airport. In some instances, these
Nigerians are trailed to their hotel rooms where they are
dispossessed of their personal belongings. The suspicion here
is that the South African authorities are working in concert
with undesirable elements whose stock in trade is to ensure
that Nigerians who step into their country are treated as
intruders who are only deserving of indignity and disdain.
This state of affairs is certainly not new. What may be new
is the renewed vigour and ferociousness with which agents
of the South African government now humiliate Nigerians in
their territory. We find this penchant for assault and intimidation
of Nigerians by the South African authorities very objectionable.
It is crude and undiplomatic to treat visiting nationals of
a foreign country as common criminals who do not deserve respect
and cordial treatment.
Any country which maintains diplomatic relations with another
must appreciate the fact that diplomacy does not thrive in
an atmosphere of antagonism and unfriendliness. Visiting nationals
of other countries must be cautiously treated by the host
country except if and when they are established to be undesirable
elements. In the absence of that, modern diplomatic relationship
demands that such visitors be accorded all the courtesies
that they deserve. This expectation is far from being met
by the South African authorities.
But the South African situation is what it is because most
Nigerians visiting that country are suspected to be of dubious
intent. That is why they are approached and treated with suspicion
even when nothing untoward has been established against them.
This is an attitude problem which the security agencies in
South Africa should wean themselves of.
To deal with this mindset, the government in Pretoria needs
to work hard towards changing social relations in the once
racially segregated country. Apartheid experience and attitudes
are still thriving in the country. Violence, brutal killings
and hatred which were the practice in the days of colour bar
are still very much with the society. Many who ought to be
properly integrated into the social system still feel very
alienated. These usually manifest as social vices that keep
the country squirming. An environment that has been so conditioned
for violent crimes will certainly be a haven for miscreants.
The authorities need to deal with this blight so that their
country will be less receptive of those they perceive as social
perverts.
As South Africa sorts itself out in this regard, our consulate
in Pretoria and the government in Abuja need to work in concert
to deal with this unpalatable situation which has become the
lot of Nigerians in South Africa. We are aware that our foreign
missions are in the habit of treating Nigerians in foreign
lands with little or no regard. They need to move away from
this torpid lack of concern for their fellow Nigerians. Although
there may be dubious Nigerians among these visitors, the rest
of us cannot be made to compulsively assume the status of
criminals. We therefore call on the Nigerian consulate in
South Africa to investigate the reported maltreatment of Nigerians
in South Africa and deal with it accordingly.
As for Nigerians who are visiting foreign countries for whatever
reasons, we implore them to eschew attitudes and indulgencies
that are unbecoming of responsible citizens. Those who have
no good reason to leave our shores should stay here and join
hands with their compatriots to improve the Nigerian condition.
Escaping to foreign lands is not the solution.
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