In the spring of 2010, while researching the human angle for a tourism article on the 2010 World Cup – South Africa 2010 for FAB Magazine, I interviewed some Nigerian citizens who were residing in various South African cities. None of them disputed the fact that the country is a beautiful and historic nation but about 80% of my respondents mentioned the tension that still exists between Nigerians and South Africans which in the past had put lives at risk and several people had died in the process. According to a Johannesburg-based Nigerian recording artiste and music producer, “it looks like people here feel threatened by us. Anytime I’m in the studio, they often keep to themselves, literally ostracizing me. I think they are jealous of our gifts and quality of our songs that make Kwaito music legends sound like eight-year old boys singing Fuji. But it’s all good; I just wanna make my money. That’s what’s up.”
This was also corroborated by a Nigerian businesswoman residing in Cape Town. She said: “Here in Cape Town, if you are a Nigerian, you can’t sleep with your two eyes tightly closed at night. I know it sounds odd, but that’s the truth. There are so many people who hate Nigerians here. They see us as dubious dishonest people that should be sent away without causing much scene that could attract global attention. If the so-much-loved Lucky Dube could be killed, imagine what could happen to us. That’s how we live our daily lives here. You can say we live on the edge.” Although both nations are thousands of miles apart, these frictions are more closely felt than the crisis.that divided North and South Korea in Asia. It could also be described as Africa’s version of Israel–Pakistan long history of discord. In times past, things used to be different.
Eighteen years ago, during the apartheid regime and at the heart of South Africa’s quest for independence, Nigeria was at the forefront playing formidable brotherly roles. But just like forgetful Nigerian governments, current South African authorities and citizens seem to have totally or partially forgotten Nigeria’s roles in the nation’s history, or are now choosing to ignore such. Apart from the past, current South Africa’s economy, entertainment and sports have Nigeria written all over them. Or how will Channel O, MTV Base, MTN, Orlando Pirates, GAME, SHOPRITE and several other South African companies post multi-million dollar profits without significant inputs from their Nigerian outlets?
The turn of things is therefore highly regrettable. While Nigerians and South Africans have a lot in common – at least they love same type of music, both governments are notorious for being at loggerheads, flexing muscles at every given opportunity and trying to prove who is stronger on the continent. Nigeria rules the dance floor and soccer pitch, while South Africa is stronger economically and in tourism. But the spate of deportation is taking its toll on helpless citizens who rarely get palliative care from the government using them as a bait and wager.
So far, more than 125 Nigerians have been deported from South Africa. In return, Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, told senators that the Nigerian government was ready to reciprocate this inhuman treatment to South African nationals. He further said “South African companies are here in Nigeria, making so much money, bringing in half baked graduates as expatriates to manage these companies.”
Although mixed feelings had greeted Nigerian government’s sudden quest for retribution, the face-off has given Nigerians an opportunity to get the true picture that foreigners and foreign governments have of Nigeria. If 125 people could be deported because they lack yellow fever vaccination card despite the fact that the last reported case of yellow fever in Nigeria was in 1995, it clearly shows that Nigeria’s health indices are not trusted outside the shores of Nigeria. A pertinent question that the Nigerian government is also shying away from is the trueness or falseness of the allegation. They ought to really know whether the deported Nigerians actually flew without their yellow vaccination cards instead of threatening South Africa with perdition, fire and brimstone.
Furthermore, the honorable minister agreed that the government is aware that individuals heading South African companies operating in Nigeria are under qualified, yet the government has not said anything about it so far despite the fact that many qualified Nigerians are unemployed or are under-employed. Under-qualified personnel cannot be expected to give high quality services and products. Why didn’t the various professional councils, products standard regulatory and monitoring agencies seal the offices or issue public notices?
The current fiasco also brings to the limelight the nation’s immigration policies and the Nigerian government’s knowledge repository on foreigners within Nigeria. It is easy to compile the names of expatriates but the major challenge is how to account for artisans and other categories of foreigners who are currently struggling, or more appropriately, “hustling”. There are so many beggars from neighboring countries like Niger republic, Chad and distant ones like Egypt and Algeria. Considering their long stay in Nigeria, the validity of their immigration papers is doubtful. This is an area where South Africa is winning. They know how and where to locate Nigerians, load them on a plane, and send them back to Lagos. No wonder they still have higher figures.
The complacence of Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission is also of great concern. The commission headed by the vice presidents of both countries ought to have swung into action several years back and could have had the situation under firm control. But instead of taking meaningful steps, the commission has been hibernating although salaries, allowances and wages might be associated with the commission in Nigeria’s 2012 fiscal budget.
The pathophysiology of the current breakdown in diplomacy between both countries is a subject of concern. Because few months ago, former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s university awarded president Jacob Zuma an honorary doctor of letters award at an elaborate ceremony. The South African president also spoke at several occasions while in Nigeria with President Goodluck Jonathan in attendance. Even in the heat of #OccupyNigeria, the press suggested the president sneaked to South Africa to participate in ANC’s centenary celebrations. The speedy rate of deterioration in diplomatic ties is therefore a subject of concern.
With or without proper verification of documentation, Nigeria is deporting South Africans and South Africa is also returning the favor. Furthermore, none of them (until few hours ago) was ready to apologize and the blame trade game could paralyze mutually beneficial businesses. Nigeria’s ego has already been bruised by a daring nation. But affirmative actions in this case will mean perdition. The inability of current administration to address the issue before it degenerated to its current ridiculous status is yet another trademark ill. Unlike the professional international team that gave Nigeria a good face in the comity of nations during President Olusegun Obasanjo’s tenure, this administration has reduced the pivotal foreign relations sector to a childish retribution game with serious consequences.
It’s clear that this is nothing but an ego battle hence the sensible thing to do is to call on the various internationally respected iconic figures to intervene. Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalam Abubakar and Prof Wole Soyinka should be called on to save the day.
The president needs to call “his boys” to order. The Nigerian side needs to be patient and assess the potential effects of their current wave of actions. They are making decisions in Abuja that are frustrating the lives, businesses and future of Nigerians that the incumbent admini
stration cannot satisfactorily take care of. Hence it would be a wicked act for them to be dragged into this childish penis swinging competition.
There are smarter ways of solving this debacle, but being stubborn, heady, recalcitrant and unyielding will only make things tougher. Nigerians in South Africa shouldn’t be made to suffer for the collapse of incumbent administration’s diplomatic tactics and its numerous mistakes. They’ve paid expensive [ticket and visa] fees to seek greener pastures in South Africa. The least we can do is to leave them out of the woes back home.
