The Nigerian Government this afternoon formally accepted the apology tendered earlier in the day by South African Government over what the Foreign Affairs Minister, ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, described as “inhuman deportation of 125 Nigerians.”
Between Friday and Monday, South African immigration officials refused 125 Nigerians entry into their country and were subsequently deported.
In a retaliatory move, Nigerian immigration officials have also deported 131 South Africans in the last four days as confirmed by Ashiru.
The Foreign Affairs Minister told a crowded news conference that he has received an apology letter from the South African Government over the ill-treatment of the Nigerians who arrived in Johannesburg aboard Arik air and South African Airways.
He also announced the formal acceptance of the apology on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Nigerian people.
He said: “As a government, we took immediate steps to protest the inhuman treatment meted out to our own citizens who are our nationals who were deported.
“And we also ensured that the South African Government was informed of our displeasure at the behaviour.
“We felt it was unafrican to have deported well over 125 Nigerians in a space of two days.
“In all my years of service in the foreign service, I have never seen that type of treatment before where in two days 125 citizens will be deported.
“Our immigration officials deported a total of 131 South Africans in four days.
“I will not want to say that was why the South African Government tendered an apology.
“May be they have discovered the procedure was wrong.”
Ashiru went further to say that “based on our strong reaction and reciprocal measures, today, I can confirm to you that I have received a letter from the South African Foreign Minister apologising fir the action and the deportation of 125 Nigerians last week.
“In the letter also, the South African Government promised to dispatch a Special Envoy as soon as possible to come and visit Mr. President and to also convey the apology of the South African Government.
“Already, we are making arrangement for Mr. President to receive the Special Envoy within the next couple of days.
“The South African Government and our Embassy in Pretoria issued a joint statement this afternoon.
“On behalf of Mr President and the Federal Government of Nigeria, I as Foreign Minister will accept the apology and I will be sending a letter back to my counterpart in South Africa accepting the apology of the South African government.”
The minister also said that both countries have agreed to urgently convey a meeting of Nigeria, South Africa Bi-National Commission to address all consular matters with a view to ensuring that the ugly incident does not repeat itself.
“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 announced.
Ashiru also advised Nigerians to always conduct themselves in a respectable manner so as not to bring disrepute to the country.
He also advised that they should always patronise certified clinics when there is need to get Yellow Fever Vaccination Cards or other relevant health related documents.
He spoke further: “For people who are travelling out, we must also conduct ourselves very well so that we don’t by our action bring disrepute to our country.
“While we as a government will do everything to protect the citizens, we also must behave ourselves.”