Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the Federal Government to impose economic sanctions on South African companies operating in Nigeria over recurring xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and the destruction of their businesses in South Africa.

Falana said Nigeria should adopt measures based on the principle of reciprocity in international relations, saying that diplomatic protests alone may not compel the South African government to take decisive action against attacks targeting Nigerians.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria spoke with journalists at his country home in Ilawe-Ekiti at the weekend after a thanksgiving Mass and reception held in honour of the late Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi (Afuntade I).

He said the Federal Government’s plan to seek the intervention of the African Union might not produce the desired outcome, noting that South Africa wields considerable influence within the continental body.

According to him, any complaint before the African Union could end with the adoption of a resolution without concrete enforcement.

Falana maintained that Nigeria has a responsibility to respond firmly if its citizens are being driven out of South Africa and their businesses destroyed.

He urged Nigerians to patronise alternatives to South African-owned businesses, including telecommunications giant MTN, saying such a move would send a strong message to the South African authorities.

“Where there are alternatives, Nigerians should be encouraged to migrate from MTN because there are alternatives. That is one way South Africa will know that Nigeria is serious,” he said.

Falana also advocated the revocation of mining licences granted to South African companies operating in Nigeria, insisting that stronger economic measures would demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.

He, however, faulted the Nigerian government for failing to adequately protect its citizens from harassment and human rights violations across Africa.

According to him, Nigeria has denied its citizens access to an important legal avenue by failing to recognise the jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights for individual petitions.

“The Federal Government will have to employ diplomatic action, but beyond that, it should also adopt economic measures against South African companies operating in Nigeria.

“In the 1970s, because of apartheid in South Africa, Nigeria nationalised British Petroleum. It should also be possible today to nationalise some South African investments in Nigeria if necessary.

“There is the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, established by the African Union to address human rights abuses in member states. Nigeria has refused to allow its nationals access to that court by failing to deposit the necessary instruments.

“If Nigerians could approach the African Court in the same way citizens can approach the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, South Africa would have been dragged before the court by victims of xenophobic attacks.

“I challenge the government of Nigeria to allow citizens access to the African Court without any further delay. Victims of gross human rights violations in African countries should have the opportunity to seek justice before the continental court, just as they can at the ECOWAS Court.” He added. (Daily Trust)

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