PRETORIA, South Africa — South Africa has apologized for a mass deportation of Nigerians, saying officials at Johannesburg's main airport did not properly check their health certificates.
At a news conference in Pretoria Thursday, deputy foreign minister Ebrahim Ibrahim said: "We wish to humbly apologize to them, and we have." he also said, “We are apologizing because we deported a number of people who should not have been deported.”
“Thereafter we will move quickly to ensure that we put machinery in place so that it will be a lasting solution, because we don’t want this to happen again because of our bilateral relations,” he said.
“We felt it was un-African to have deported well over 125 Nigerians in a space of two days,” he added.
Travellers at the arrival wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport II Ikeja in Lagos.
Two diplomats from the Nigerian High Commission accompanied Ibrahim to the news conference, but refused to comment beyond a joint statement that described tit-for-tat deportations the two countries say should not affect their relations.
On March 2, South Africa deported 125 Nigerians who, according to airport health authorities, carried fraudulent yellow fever cards. Since then, authorities in Lagos have deported South Africans, raising health concerns.
“What you see playing out is what we call xenophobia by South Africans against all Africans — not just Nigerians — including even those from their neighbouring countries,” Ashiru said.
Nigeria had been certified as free of yellow fever by the World Health Organization, the minister said.
“That is why countries in Europe and the US do not demand yellow fever cards from Nigerian travellers,” he added.
Nigeria also responded by deporting 84 South Africans within two days in a move to retaliate .
South Africa’s government however promised on Thursday to investigate why airport officials barred 125 Nigerians from entering the country which, sparked a diplomatic row between the two countries. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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welldone nigeria ministry of external affairs, bravo!
ReplyDeleteThat is a good development on the part of SA. but then, I believe the whole matter got to this level because a serving senator was involved. Supposing it were ordinary Nigerians that go about their normal business who are not in government, I believe the matter would had been swept under the carpet. Who knows how many that must have been deported before now?
ReplyDeleteIs serves the SAs right. Do they think we are fools or duns over. I hope The South African gys that work with Vacation Investment Portfolio (V.I.P Express) are amongst the ones deported. because those guys insults their workers by calling them pigs. That, they shld b worshiping them cos their forking nation (Nigeria) could not employ them.
ReplyDeleteWhether it caught our attention because a serving Senator was there or not, Nigeria did a good job. Our boarders are too friendly to foreigners even more than Nigerians that own the country. The same country refused to grant us security during the world cup the hosted. Its time we show them that we are a great nation. If they want more, lets give it to them. Well done Naija.
ReplyDeleteThis apology should not end the deportation of this stupid southern africans. Nigeria should go on with the deportation of SA nationals. To hell with them.
ReplyDeleteWhat a useless country southAfricans that all them has Hiv and Aids..deporting Nigerians.
ReplyDeleteSo the Federal Govt. is aware that there are SA prostitutes in Nigeria and haven't done anything before now to curb their excesses.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pity
I said that this TIT-FOR-TAT move was because of a BIg wig among the deportees. "NDOMA EGBA" is the reason for this. Let other countries be treated like this so that Nigerian will recover her name in the world. Or are we saying that it is only South that has treated us like this?
ReplyDeleteWelldone SA for accepting your wrong, however Nigeria should go ahead to do proper screening at our borders. This country is full with Benin Rep indigens, Ghanians (yet they never respect us,i don't their problem). The same should be extended to Holland and US citizen.
ReplyDeleteA senator deported, suddenly Nigeria is fighting hard. What about cases of Nigerians executed for no reason at all? May be more politicians should find themselves in prisons abroad, then all this madness about hard working Nigerian polluting there environment will stop.
ReplyDeleteWELL, EXCEPT NIGERIANS OURSELVES AT HOME AND ABROAD CHOOSE TO BE FAIR IN ALL OUR DEALINGS AND HONEST TO ALL MEN WITHOUT LET OR HINDRANCE, WE WILL BE GETTING THIS TREATMENT ALL OVER!YES, RSA MADE A FAUX PAS AND WE DID WELL,LETS KEEP OUR GUARD SO THAT NOBODY TREATS US WORSE!!
ReplyDeleteApologies tendered, but is it with remorse?
ReplyDeleteOh, my dear mother land, how i weep.
Today, it is South Africans that are deporting Nigerians like ordinary criminals. What an insult.
Our Government should please develop our country so that there will be no need of wanting to fly to SA.
De-monopolize DSTV, so that they will not extort us again.
We should retaliate with much harsher measure, let us not accept this lip service apology.
@ AUSTEN now do u wnt to go back on your words of yesterday? Long live nigeria for finally waking up to being Nigeria even if it involved members of govt at least we showed that we can bite if need to.
ReplyDeleteWhether deportation involved a Senator or not we appreciate that our Leaders has started to recognize that what affects Nigerian "common man" can also affect the big man. Kudos to the reactions of those in authority in redressing the humiliations.
ReplyDeletei totally agree wif all of yaa.i fink Mtn nids 2 b de-monopolise also. These Rsa shuld no dat we equally hv d weeping stick. Fuck dem...all xenophobiac's
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ReplyDeleteDont be a hypocrite!! that last comment should have been deleted.
That is:
AnonymousMarch 9, 2012 at 10:37 PM
i totally agree wif all of yaa.i fink Mtn nids 2 b de-monopolise also. These Rsa shuld no dat we equally hv d weeping stick. Fuck dem...all xenophobiac's
Reply