Fed Govt demands review of Yellow Fever
certificate policy
NIGERIA hit back at South Africa last night.
Twenty-eight South Africans were denied
entry into Lagos – a Bosom for tat that has
deepened the row between the two
countries.
South Africa last Friday deported 125
Nigerians from the Oliver Tambo
International Airport in Johanesburg after
denying them entry into the country for
allegedly possessing fake yellow fever
certificates. The Federal Government
frowned at the action.
The 28 passengers flew into the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport in Lagos
aboard a South African Airways flight at
about 9.30pm.
They were expected to be deported last
night or this morning.
A source said: "The Federal Government
decided to deny these 28 South Africans
entry because of invalid documents and
relevant health certificate clearance.
"We are also deporting them back to South
Africa. The Presidency has been notified of
this action.
"We will no longer overlook certain
procedures which we have condoned in the
spirit of African brotherhood."
Earlier yesterday, Nigeria had threatened to
retaliate South Africa’s maltreatment of
Nigerians.
Interior Minister Albo Moro said: "I want to
assure you on one thing. The Federal
Government has the capacity to reciprocate
appropriately if it is found that (the
deportation) was not done in good faith."
He added: "At the moment, Nigeria
maintains a very cordial diplomatic relations
with South Africa and I can assure you that
we will react appropriately if it is found that
South Africa has taken unfriendly action
against Nigeria.
Moro spoke to reporters at the Presidential
Villa in Abuja.
Also yesterday, the Federal Government
summoned the South African High
Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Kingsley
Mambolo.
Besides, the House of Representatives
Committee on Foreign Affairs asked the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga
Ashiru, to appear before it today to clarify
Nigeria’s relationship with other African
countries.
The Chairman of the House of
Representatives Committee on the Diaspora
Affairs, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, asked the
Federal Government to apply the principle of
reciprocity in dealing with South Africa.
Mambolo was at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to explain why South Africa
maltreated Nigerian travellers last Friday.
According to sources, when he got to the
Ministry at about 3pm, Mambolo was asked
to see the Permanent Secretary, Ambassador
Martin Uhomoibhi, instead of the Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
A source, who spoke in confidence, said:
"When the South African High Commissioner
got to the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary
was directed to ask him to explain why 125
Nigerians were deported without diplomatic
courtesy.
"He spent about an hour interacting with
the Permanent Secretary, but Nigeria was
not convinced about the explanation given
by South Africa.
"We are demanding unreserved apology
from South Africa for this ill-treatment of
Nigerian travellers or else, we will take more
drastic actions."
Ashiru confirmed the invitation of the High
Commissioner but he declined further
comments.
The Minister is to appear before the House
Committee today to clarify Nigeria’
relationship with its African countries.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon.
Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, said it was disturbed
by the series of negative attacks on
Nigerians and its embassies, especially in the
sub region.
Elendu-Ukeje recalled the recent lock-up of
some Nigerians in Togo without any
explanation to the Nigerian government.
She said: "We are indeed worried about all
these indignation and scorn Nigerians are
subjected to all over the world, especially by
sister African nations. This calls for a review
of our relationship with these countries.
"So, we have invited the Minister of Foreign
Affairs to a meeting on Tuesday to come
and explain to us, our relationship with
these countries and why Nigerians are
being subjected to ridicule all over the
world," she said.
To Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, the illegal deportation
of 125 Nigerians by the South African
government is "inhuman".
In a statement in Abuja, she faulted the
"continuous unwarranted hostilities against
Nigerians by the South Africa government".
She said: "It is pathetic that 125 Nigerians,
the highest so far, which include women
and children, were delayed for 24 hours
without water and food in an inhuman
condition before being bundled back to
Nigeria".
"Do Nigeria ask South Africans to fill Yellow
card when coming to Nigeria? Even then,
passengers must have passed through this
process while applying for visa in the
Embassy. Why treat Nigerians with scorn
and indignation. This is really appalling.
"Is this the way to pay Nigeria back with
their kind gesture? This is unfair and un-
African."
Mrs Dabiri-Erewa also recalled how South
African businesses, such as MTN and Multi-
Choice – owner of DSTV - among others, are
thriving in Nigeria better than any part of
Africa without any form of molestation from
Nigerian government.
The lawmaker recalled how the South
African government stopped charging
Nigerians deportation fees when Nigeria
Embassy in South Africa under the High
Commissioner Mohammed Marwa
introduced it.
She said: "I call on the Federal Government
to protect her citizens by applying the law of
reciprocity to South Africans coming to
Nigeria by introducing the same stringent
treatment meted to Nigerians going to
South Africa."
Speaking on Nigeria’s Porous border, Moro
said: "It is unfair to say that we don’t know
the category of persons that enter Nigeria.
Nigeria, like any other big country, has this
problem of border porousity. I agree with
you that Nigeria’s border as vast as it is, is
porous to some extent but that is not to say
that we don’t know the category of people
that enter Nigeria."
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