Senate vows “no more Impunity” as Xenophobic attacks spark calls for sanctions against South Africa, Ghana

By Haruna Salami

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday erupted in condemnation over the resurgence of xenophobic violence against Nigerians in South Africa and Ghana, with some lawmakers calling for aggressive economic retaliation to force diplomatic compliance.
​In a session marked by visible frustration, the upper chamber described the profiling and physical targeting of Nigerians as “barbaric” and “unlawful,” warning that the era of accepting empty diplomatic assurances has ended.
​The debate took a sharp turn when Senator Adams Oshiomhole (Edo North) argued that Nigeria must leverage its economic weight to protect its citizens.
He suggested that Nigeria should consider revoking the licenses of South African-owned conglomerates if the violence persists.
​“By the time we withdraw MTN licenses and revoke DStv licenses, those workers from South Africa will have good jobs to do.
“When we have this balance of madness, I believe there will be sanity. Let us bite in a manner that they will be the ones begging”, he stated.
​The motion, sponsored by Senator Osita Izunasor (Imo West), lamented that Nigerians are being treated as criminals solely based on their nationality.
Senator Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) reminded the host nations of Nigeria’s historical sacrifices, noting that Nigerian civil servants and students funded the liberation struggles of South Africans from the 1960s to the 1990s.
The Senate maintained that the current “culture of impunity” in these countries violates ECOWAS protocols and the African Union Charter.
​Following the debate, the Senate adopted a resolution demanding immediate and concrete action from the Federal Government to ensure engagement with South Africa and Ghana to secure “enforceable guarantees” against future violence, demand for the transparent investigation, arrest, and punishment of perpetrators and their sponsors.
​It also called for he creation of a “Diaspora Protection Framework” featuring early warning mechanisms and evacuation protocols, provision of legal aid, emergency shelter, and trauma support for victims, and apush for ECOWAS and AU legal actions to deter xenophobia..
It equally mandated the Committee on Diaspora and Foreign Affairs, led by Senator Aniekan Akpan, to conduct an inquest and engage with affected Nigerians.
​Despite the calls for retaliation, Senator Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central) urged his colleagues to allow ongoing diplomatic efforts to mature.
He revealed that the Minister of Foreign Affairs is currently in South Africa for high-level talks.
​“In international relations, there is the rule of reciprocity,” Aliero noted, while suggesting the Senate exercise caution to avoid preempting the executive’s current negotiations.
​Senate President Godswill Akpabio, however, underscored that the safety of Nigerians abroad is “non-negotiable,” tasking the relevant committee to report back swiftly to ensure the cycle of violence is permanently broken.