Nigeria’s delegation led by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Interior, Geoffrey Onyeama and Abdulrahaman Dambazau respectively have arrived South Africa to hold high-level talks with President Jacob Zuma over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in that country.
The spokesperson of the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Clement Aduku, said in a statement issued on Monday that the delegation is also scheduled to meet with the South African Foreign Minister, Maite Nkoana Mashabane, among other top ranking officials.
The talks, according to Aduku, are aimed at tackling the recent attacks on Nigerians head on and to seek permanent solutions to the crisis.
The statement reads, “The honourable minister of foreign affairs Geoffrey Onyeama and the honourable minister of interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau have arrived South Africa to hold high level talks with relevant officials of the country over the spate of attacks against foreigners, including Nigerians,” it read.
“While in South Africa, the delegation will meet the South African President Jacob Zuma and the foreign minister, Maite Nkoana Mashabane, among top ranking officials.”
“The talks are aimed at addressing head on, the recent attacks on Nigerians and seek permanent solutions to the crisis. The delegation will also meet with the Nigerian community leaders in the country.”
It would be recalled that last month’s renewed attacks on Nigerians in South Africa resulted in the looting and destruction of businesses, buildings and places of worship, worth millions of dollars.
Nigerian youths, in retaliation, attacked businesses owned by South African companies in Abuja and burned down the country’s national flag at its embassy.