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The House of Representatives has backed Nigeria’s diplomatic approach to recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other African migrants in South Africa, rejecting calls for tougher measures against the country.
Deputy spokesman of the House, Philip Agbese, said Nigeria’s ongoing diplomatic engagements with the Sout African government were already producing positive results.
Agbese made the position known on Monday while appearing as a guest on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Asked whether Nigeria should adopt stricter measures in response to the attacks, he said the government’s diplomatic strategy remained the appropriate approach.
“No. I think so far, you know, the diplomatic engagements that we have activated are making a good impact,” Agbese said.
He disclosed that Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa, Femi Fani-Kayode, was also engaging the South African authorities over the attacks and the safety of Nigerians living in the country.
According to the lawmaker, efforts by civil society groups in South Africa, including the Ubuntu movement, were also contributing to the search for peaceful solutions.
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“Today, to the glory of God, we now have a group of South African people running the Ubuntu movement. The Ubuntu movement is about peace in Africa. It is about love,” he said.
Agbese described xenophobia as a wider continental challenge, noting that migration across African countries was driven by various factors and should not be reduced solely to economic hardship.
The renewed violence has triggered a significant movement of migrants out of South Africa, with more than 176,000 people reportedly leaving the country in recent weeks based on figures from African countries that have repatriated their nationals.
At least four migrants have been killed in the violence, according to South African police, although some foreign governments have reported higher figures.
Nigeria has also evacuated 1,490 of its nationals from South Africa, while Ghana has repatriated at least 926 citizens.
Nigeria and Ghana have both pushed for the African Union to address the recurring anti-migrant violence, with Ghana calling for an AU debate on the issue.
