The Presidency says the planned visit by President Muhammadu Buhari\u2019s to South Africa next month remains on course to reinforce \u201cthe strong bonds between the two countries\u201d and jointly develop responses to problems affecting people and businesses in South Africa and Nigeria.
\nThe statement on Saturday came as a surprise to many after the Federal Government cancelled participation in the World Economic Forum, following xenophobic attacks on foreigners, including Nigerians in that country recently.
\nAlso, over 100 Nigerians have been killed in the former apartaparthEid enclave in the last three years.
\nThe Foreign Minister of South Africa, Make do Pandor, drew the ire of Nigerians when she stereotyped them as criminals.
\nHer words, \u201cHelp us address the belief and the reality that our people have that there are many persons from Nigeria, who are dealing in drugs in our country, who are harming our young people by making drugs easily available to them.
\n\u201cThe belief that Nigerian nationals are involved in human trafficking and other abusive practices. This kind of assistance in ensuring that such people don\u2019t come to our country would be of great assistance to our nation.\u201d
\nBut the emotions of Nigerians is a mixed grill.
\nAn angry ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called for extreme measurges like nationalizing big Sith African business concerns in Nigeria.
\nHowever, the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), expressed optimism that the meeting between Nigerian and South African Presidents will bring lasting solutions to the recurrent xenophobia.
\nRecall that a report quoted the President of NICASA, Mr Ben Okoli, as telling the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone conversation that President Muhammadu Buhari and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa, were expected to meet in October to discuss modalities to address attacks on Nigerians living in that country.
\n\u201cWe are looking forward to the state visit by President Buhari and we believe his coming will help reduce the suffering Nigerians go through in South Africa.
\n\u201cWe will use the opportunity to lay our complaints to the president and highlight security of lives and properties of our members, as the area of concern that we want addressed.
\n\u201cWe will also be able to get assurance from our host country\u2019s president towards securing lives and properties of Nigerians here.
\n\u201cWe hope the visit will comfort Nigerians here, because we expect our plight to be tabled before the host government, so they can provide adequate protection to ensure Nigerians feel safe,\u201d he said.
\nHe lamented the high handedness of Police operatives in South Africa on matters that concerned Nigerians, saying issues like brutality and killings should be brought to the fore at the meeting.
\n\u201cWe will list all potentials that could bring about economic benefits and growth to Nigerians through the anticipated state visit,\u201d he said.
\nHe said that Nigerians ha, without any fear of contradiction, contributed immensely to the growth of the South African economy.
\n\u201cWe urge the South African Government to ensure that the attacks do not reoccur. We appeal to them to device alternative strategies since previous efforts to stop xenophobia have not worked.
\n\u201cWe believe xenophobia can be stopped and therefore appeal to the South African government to provide succour to foreigners who have lost their source of livelihood, especially Nigerians.
\nHe commended the Nigerian Consulate General to South Africa, Godwin Adama, for the pro-active steps he had so far taken to douse tension via the media in that country.
\n\u201cThe mission\u2019s gate has never been shut against Nigerians; it has always kept its door open.
\n\u201cWhat happened is that after the crisis in Pretoria where South African\u2019s destroyed Nigerian businesses and property, those whose property were destroyed went to the mission out of frustration and anger.
\n\u201cI understand the situation; it is not easy for somebody to lose his property and just be watching; but the mission gate was not shut against them,\u201d he said.
\nHe said they were invite in and received by an official of the consulate who went as far as organising food and drinks for them to make sure that they are comfortable.
\n\u201cSo they were attended to and nobody would say that the gate was shut against them.
\n\u201cThe mission allowed them in even though they came in by force and destroyed part of the entrance.
\n\u201cThey were encouraged to go and calculate their losses and bring back the report through the organisation. So, we are actually collaborating with people who have lost their property.
\n\u201cWe are taking inventory of what our people lost, which I will make available to the high commissioner in due time,\u201d Okoli said.
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