– Nigerian and South African governments have been advised to establish a bilateral commission to ensure the protection of their joint national interests – The advice was given on Wednesday, September 4, by a former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku – Anyaoku expressed sadness over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa – The elder statesman urged the federal government to seek the firmest assurance from the South African government to take all necessary steps to protect Nigerians in South Africa A former secretary general of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has called on Nigerian and South African governments to establish a bilateral commission to ensure the protection of their joint national interests.
Anyaoku gave the advice following xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa and retaliatory attacks on South Africa and their businesses in Nigeria, The Guardian reports. Legit.ng gathers that the elder statesman gave the advice in a statement on Wednesday, September 4, in which he expressed sadness over the xenophobic incidents in South Africa.
He said: “As the commonwealth secretary-general who played a seminal role in the negotiations that ended apartheid and ushered in democracy in South Africa, I am greatly saddened by the condemnable xenophobic incidents in the country. “I urge the South African government to back up its condemnation of these ugly incidents with strong action by its security agencies.” He urged the federal government to seek the firmest assurance from the South African government to take all necessary steps to protect Nigerians and other Africans residing and doing business legally in South Africa. Anyaoku said: “The two governments should immediately establish a bilateral commission that will be meeting regularly to ensure the protection of the two countries’ national interests.”