NIGERIA and South Africa may again be embroiled in a diplomatic row over alleged deportation of Nigerians from that country.
There was confrontation between both countries two years ago over issues bothering on deportation of Nigerians from South Africa.
It was gathered that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already studying a petition by Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Arik Air, over the alleged deportation of over 40 Nigerians in August this year alone at the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
A source in the Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Guardian Tuesday that the government was worried over the issues that they thought had been resolved when Abuja retaliated by deporting hundreds of South Africans from Lagos Airport over issue of yellow fever cards.
The management of Arik, in a letter entitled “Maltreatment of Arik passengers” and addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, intimated the ministry of alleged discriminatory and maltreatment of Arik passengers in South Africa, adding that “It has become worrisome and there is urgent need to put a stop to this act as perpetrated by the Immigration authorities in Johannesburg.”
A top official of Arik airline in Johannesburg, a Portuguese who preferred anonymity, confided in The Guardian that Nigerians slated for deportation were detained for hours and at a time the airline (Arik) that brought them would have departed for Lagos, thereby exposing the airline to $500 fine on each of the passengers deported.
The official alleged that it was a ploy to edge out Arik on the route, as the situation has made travellers to prefer South Africa Airways where there seems to be no Nigerian travellers encountering such difficulty.
A mild drama ensued at the Johannesburg International Airport yesterday when about six Nigerian travellers were led away to a room by Immigration officers ostensibly for deportation as they claimed that they had all the documentation that made the South African Embassy in Lagos to issue them visa.
The Immigration officials claimed that most of the travellers from Nigeria had forged hotel bookings and reservations and faked yellow fever cards, among other travel documents.
But experts dismissed their claims, saying the new rule before visa can be issued is presentation of yellow fever cards duly endorsed by Port Health Authority of the Federal Ministry of Health, confirmed hotel bookings, return air tickets, letter of introduction or consent by employers and statement of accounts.
They reasoned that once the Embassy is satisfied, leading to the issuance of visa, the South African Immigration authority does not have the right to deny travellers entry, unless the offence bothers on issues that are different from those listed above.
South Africa, after the row that made Nigeria to retaliate the former’s action, apologised to the Nigerian government for the action she took.
The government blamed airport authorities for what a joint statement with Nigeria described as a “regrettable incident which the South African government believes could have been handled better.”
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Ashiru, described the deportation as evidence of xenophobia.
“What you see playing out is what we call xenophobia by South Africans against all Africans – not just Nigerians,” he was quoted to have said.
Guardiannews
There was confrontation between both countries two years ago over issues bothering on deportation of Nigerians from South Africa.
It was gathered that Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is already studying a petition by Nigeria’s flag carrier airline, Arik Air, over the alleged deportation of over 40 Nigerians in August this year alone at the OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg.
A source in the Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Guardian Tuesday that the government was worried over the issues that they thought had been resolved when Abuja retaliated by deporting hundreds of South Africans from Lagos Airport over issue of yellow fever cards.
The management of Arik, in a letter entitled “Maltreatment of Arik passengers” and addressed to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Olugbenga Ashiru, intimated the ministry of alleged discriminatory and maltreatment of Arik passengers in South Africa, adding that “It has become worrisome and there is urgent need to put a stop to this act as perpetrated by the Immigration authorities in Johannesburg.”
A top official of Arik airline in Johannesburg, a Portuguese who preferred anonymity, confided in The Guardian that Nigerians slated for deportation were detained for hours and at a time the airline (Arik) that brought them would have departed for Lagos, thereby exposing the airline to $500 fine on each of the passengers deported.
The official alleged that it was a ploy to edge out Arik on the route, as the situation has made travellers to prefer South Africa Airways where there seems to be no Nigerian travellers encountering such difficulty.
A mild drama ensued at the Johannesburg International Airport yesterday when about six Nigerian travellers were led away to a room by Immigration officers ostensibly for deportation as they claimed that they had all the documentation that made the South African Embassy in Lagos to issue them visa.
The Immigration officials claimed that most of the travellers from Nigeria had forged hotel bookings and reservations and faked yellow fever cards, among other travel documents.
But experts dismissed their claims, saying the new rule before visa can be issued is presentation of yellow fever cards duly endorsed by Port Health Authority of the Federal Ministry of Health, confirmed hotel bookings, return air tickets, letter of introduction or consent by employers and statement of accounts.
They reasoned that once the Embassy is satisfied, leading to the issuance of visa, the South African Immigration authority does not have the right to deny travellers entry, unless the offence bothers on issues that are different from those listed above.
South Africa, after the row that made Nigeria to retaliate the former’s action, apologised to the Nigerian government for the action she took.
The government blamed airport authorities for what a joint statement with Nigeria described as a “regrettable incident which the South African government believes could have been handled better.”
Nigeria’s foreign minister, Ashiru, described the deportation as evidence of xenophobia.
“What you see playing out is what we call xenophobia by South Africans against all Africans – not just Nigerians,” he was quoted to have said.
Guardiannews
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