Nigeria recalls High Commissioner to South Africa, pulls out of World Economic Forum

 

• Demands full compensation for loss of life and property of Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa

 

BY ISMAILA CHAFE

Nigeria has recalled its High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Kabiru Bala and also pulled out of the World Economic Forum holding in Cape Town, South Africa, on Wednesday.

A presidential source told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that Nigeria also demanded for full compensation for the loss of life and property of Nigerians affected by the xenophobic attack.

He also disclosed that Nigeria has pulled out of World Economic Forum on Africa billed for Cape Town, South Africa, from September 4-6 over the xenophobic attacks.

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo was to represent Nigeria at the forum.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Malawi had earlier pulled out of the event.

Presidents Paul Kagame (Rwanda), Felix Tshisekedi (DRC) and Peter Mutharika (Malawi) have all withdrawn from the event.

The source said that Nigeria has also demanded for full compensation for the victims of the attacks.

According to the source, this was the outcome of President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo and Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama’s brainstorming session on the raging Xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

Onyeama had on Tuesday during a joint news briefing with the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Bobby Moroe, insisted that the issue of compensation must be addressed.

“There has to be accountability and there has to be responsibility for compensating all those Nigerians that have suffered loss and we are going to absolutely push that forward,” Onyeama insisted.