Abuja: The President, Africa Development Study Centre (ADSC), Victor Oluwafemi, has urged the Federal Government to summon South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria over recurring attacks on Nigerians in the country.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oluwafemi recommended a formal engagement for clear assurances regarding the safety of Nigerian nationals in South Africa. This call to action follows a recent incident captured in a video where a Nigerian cab driver was attacked in South Africa, strangled to death, and robbed of his valuables.
Oluwafemi stressed the importance of decisive actions by the Federal Government to protect Nigerians in South Africa and other countries experiencing tension. He emphasized that Nigeria must safeguard its citizens both domestically and internationally to reclaim its stature in the global community.
He also urged the Federal Government to appoint ambassadors to represent Nigeria in all countries, particularly those experiencing tensions. Oluwafemi, who is also an International Development Consultant and a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, highlighted the urgency of addressing the recurring attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Oluwafemi noted that ensuring the safety of Nigerian citizens abroad is a sovereign obligation, not merely a diplomatic courtesy. He pointed out that Nigeria currently lacks a substantive ambassador in South Africa, a situation that creates a strategic gap in managing tensions and protecting citizens. According to Oluwafemi, an ambassador’s role extends beyond ceremonial duties to include representing national authority, deterrence, crisis engagement, and the structured defense of citizens.