FG threatens South African Authorities.

"I’m hoping   this is not the case where two elephants fight the grass suffers"

Nigeria’s Federal Government Monday threatened to reciprocate the deportation of 125 Nigerians by the South African authorities if the deportation was done in bad faith.

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Mr. Abba Moro, made the announcement while speaking with journalists after a closed door meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan Monday in Abuja.

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The Federal Government has also summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner to Nigeria for explanation of the incidence. ``I want to assure you on one thing: that Federal Government has the capacity to reciprocate appropriately if it finds out that it is not done in good faith.

``I can assure you that we will react appropriately if it is found that South Africa has taken unfriendly action against Nigeria,’’ the minister said. Moro said that government was trying to find out the details of the deportation before appropriate action would be taken.
``At the moment, the information that is available to government is that some Nigerians travelled to South Africa without appropriate travel documents, especially the yellow fever card. ``We are trying to find out the details of the situation.

” He said Meanwhile the deportation has attracted summons for the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Gbenga Ashiru to appear Tuesday before the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs today to brief the legislators on Nigeria’s diplomatic status with other African countries. The Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje told journalists in Abuja Monday that the recent deportation of 125 Nigerians by the South African government was the height of insult and indignation. Elendu-Ukeje explained that the House committee was worried by the series of negative attacks on Nigerians and its embassies, especially in Africa.

``We are indeed worried about all these indignation and scorn Nigerians were subjected to all over the world especially by her sister African nations, which calls for a review of our relationship with these countries. ``So we have invited the Minister of Foreign Affairs to a meeting on today to come and explain to us, our relationship with these countries and why Nigerians are being subjected to ridicule all over the world,’’ she added. The 125 Nigerians were on March 3, deported from South Africa for allegedly being in possession of fake yellow fever vaccination cards.

The travelers, who arrived in South Africa on March 1, were deported in two flights, 75 of them aboard South African Airways and 50 in Arik Air. It will be recalled that the Federal Government through the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, had decried the deportation and directed the Nigerian High Commissioner in South Africa to lodge a formal protest over the action of South African immigration officials.

 Extracted from Times of Nigeria