President Bola Tinubu has described the xenophobic attacks against other Africans Nationals in South Africa as “not acceptable” while addressing the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone.
Tinubu thereafter asked the regional body to take the issue from the regional bloc to the continental body, the African Union (AU).
Nigeria and Ghana, two leading members of ECOWAS, are among the countries worst hit by attacks on fellow Africans by mobs in South Africa, while the Cyril Ramaphosa government looks on.
Nigeria, like other countries whose citizens living in South Africa came under attack, had citizens killed, maimed or deprived of their means of livelihood through the looting of their shops, and subsequently evacuated many of them.
Citizens of Southern African countries neighbouring South Africa – Malawi, Zimbabwe, Lesotho and Botswana, among others – were also not spared by the rampaging mobs.
Tinubu, who was represented at the summit by Vice President Kashim Shettima told the leaders that xenophobia stands condemned.
“Nigeria condemns in strong terms the recent Afrophobic attack on its citizens and other fellow Africans in the Republic of South Africa.
“As already mentioned by His Excellency, the President of Ghana, ECOWAS should present this matter before the next meeting of the Authority of the African Union to send a clear message that this type of behaviour is unacceptable.
“South Africa should be reminded that the freedom the country currently enjoys is due to the liberation efforts of African countries such as Nigeria.
“The Nigerian Government has evacuated one thousand, four hundred and ninety of its citizens in seven batches and is prepared to engage on this matter,” the President said in an address delivered by Shettima.
Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the newly developed ECOWAS Compact for the Future of Regional Integration, describing it as a landmark roadmap for strengthening regional solidarity, economic integration, democratic governance and sustainable development across West Africa.
He said Nigeria remained fully committed to implementing the Compact, noting that it aligned with the aspirations of ECOWAS Vision 2050 while extending the bloc’s collective outlook to 2075.
“As the largest economy and one of the key founding members of our Regional Economic Community, Nigeria remains steadfast in its historic responsibility to continue the promotion of regional unity, peace, economic integration and democratic governance,” Tinubu said.
The President assured fellow leaders that Nigeria would continue working closely with member states and other stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of the Compact and the achievement of its six strategic pillars.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to removing trade barriers, improving cross-border infrastructure and facilitating the free movement of persons, goods and services to create a more favourable environment for businesses and investors across West Africa.
(Ripples)