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From Aidoghie Paulinus, Abuja
The Federal Government has said there was nothing wrong in sending an envoy to the Republic of South Africa to represent the country.
Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, stated this while responding to Daily Sun’s enquiry.
The response is coming amidst a series of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, leading to loss of lives and property and the evacuation of a total number of 1,141 Nigerians from the troubled country.
He was asked, considering the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, if it was not insulting to the sensibility of the affected individuals for the Federal Government to be sending an envoy to the country when diplomatic channels seemed to have been broken down.
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Ebienfa said the process of appointing ambassadors preceded the crisis, saying there was nothing wrong in the new High Commissioner, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, assuming his tour of duty in Pretoria, South Africa.
“Diplomacy is very relevant in crisis situations. The process of appointing Ambassadors precedes the current crisis. Therefore, there is nothing wrong in our new High Commissioner departing for Pretoria to assume duty.”
He also responded to the issue of severing ties with South Africa over the attacks as some Nigerians have been asking questions if the Federal Government is mulling the idea of severing ties with South Africa. “We are not severing ties.”
On efforts by the government towards seeking compensation for affected Nigerians, Ebienfa explained that documentation of legal businesses and properties owned by Nigerians that were living legally in South Africa is ongoing.
