Denge Josef Onoh, Chairman of the Forum of Former Members of the Enugu State House of Assembly and former South-East spokesman to President Bola Tinubu, has rejected South Africa’s demand that Nigeria reimburse it for the cost of repatriating foreign nationals amid its recent immigration crackdown.
Onoh, in a statement made available to journalists from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, described the demand as an ‘illegal levy’, arguing that Nigeria, as a sovereign nation, should not be compelled to reimburse expenses incurred by the South African government.
His reaction followed reports that South Africa had written to Nigeria, Malawi and Ethiopia seeking reimbursement for expenses associated with the accommodation, transportation and repatriation of foreign nationals.
The South African authorities reportedly said the expenses covered transportation, temporary repatriation centres, accommodation and staff overtime, describing the costs as unforeseen and unavoidable.
But Onoh said Nigeria would not pay any part of the R292 million ($18.5 million) bill.
‘As an independent sovereign nation, Nigeria firmly rejects this illegal levy, which directly violates international law, the principles of continental solidarity, and the fundamental rights of African citizens,’ he said.
Onoh argued that South Africa’s request failed to take into account what he described as substantial financial losses suffered by Nigerian investors and traders during episodes of xenophobic violence and attacks on foreign-owned businesses.
He said Nigeria should instead seek compensation for losses allegedly suffered by its citizens and businesses in South Africa.
According to him, hundreds of foreign-owned small businesses, manufacturing equipment, vehicles and real estate assets had been looted, vandalised or destroyed during anti-immigrant attacks.
Onoh also alleged that Nigerian business owners and other African professionals had been forced to abandon their homes, businesses and investments because of threats of violence.
He accused the South African government of failing to adequately protect African migrants and said the activities of anti-immigrant groups, including Operation Dudula, had contributed to an increasingly hostile environment for foreign nationals.
Onoh said Nigeria was consulting with the governments of Malawi and Ethiopia, as well as affected victims, as part of efforts to assess the extent of the alleged losses.
He said that, if necessary, Nigeria could present a counter-demand for compensation from South Africa to cover losses suffered by Nigerian citizens and businesses.
Onoh further warned Pretoria against using African migrants as scapegoats for domestic security and economic challenges, arguing that such policies could damage South Africa’s diplomatic and economic relations with other African countries.
He also linked the dispute to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), saying hostile treatment of African migrants could undermine the spirit of continental economic integration.
Onoh said Nigeria had historically provided substantial financial, diplomatic and political support to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa.
He claimed that Nigeria’s cumulative support between 1960 and 1994 amounted to more than $61 billion, covering financial, military and diplomatic assistance, as well as safe havens and other support for South Africans during the liberation struggle.
‘If a refund is what Pretoria seeks, South Africa must deduct this repatriation bill from its massive, outstanding historical indebtedness to Nigeria,’ Onoh said.
He warned that Nigeria would explore international and multilateral channels to protect its citizens and pursue what it considers legitimate claims against South Africa.
Onoh said Pretoria should reconsider what he described as its ‘xenophobic diplomatic tactics’, adding that reducing relations between the two countries to financial transactions could force Nigeria to present its own ‘historical invoice’.