South Africa Yet to Finalise Nigerians’ Protection Pact Six Years After Talks Began – Dabiri-Erewa
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has disclosed that the South African government is yet to sign a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at protecting Nigerians and other African nationals from xenophobic attacks, despite negotiations spanning six years.
Dabiri-Erewa made the revelation during an X Spaces conversation organised by The Progressive NG under the theme, “Leveraging Diaspora Strength for Nigeria’s Next Phase of Growth.”
She explained that the proposed agreement, known as the Early Warning Signal Mechanism, is intended to ensure rapid intervention by South African authorities whenever Nigerians face threats linked to xenophobic violence or related disturbances.
According to her, the agreement would place a binding obligation on South African authorities to act swiftly in protecting Nigerians and other Africans whenever signs of unrest or targeted attacks emerge.
“We have an MoU with South Africa, the early warning signal mechanism. They have to sign it. So, the minister is putting pressure on them to sign this MoU. It’s been there for about six years,” she stated.
Dabiri-Erewa further noted that once the agreement is formally signed, it would strengthen accountability and emergency response measures during periods of crisis involving Nigerians resident in South Africa.
She added that while Nigerians abroad deserve protection, those found guilty of criminal conduct should equally face the consequences of the law.
The NiDCOM boss also revealed that Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has continued diplomatic engagements with South African officials in a bid to secure the final endorsement of the agreement.
She urged Nigerians living in South Africa to remain peaceful and avoid actions capable of escalating tensions amid recurring concerns over xenophobic incidents in the country.
“In the meantime, we urge our people to stay calm, don’t look for trouble. If you can’t go to your shop, just manage,” she advised.
Dabiri-Erewa further disclosed that Ghana has requested that the issue of xenophobia in South Africa be placed on the agenda of the next meeting of the African Union for broader continental discussions.
