The South Africa High Commission in Nigeria has shut down its offices and consulate for fear of reprisal attacks by youths.
Acting High Commissioner, Bobby Moroe, said on Thursday that he had directed the mission to suspend all consular activities until the situation improved.
The closure comes amidst attacks on businesses of South African origin in several parts of the country.
“I directed that the Mission should be closed until the situation improves. We heard that South Africans were being pulled out of vehicles and attacked. We feel unsafe and that is why I directed that the mission should close down until further notice,” Mr Moroe said.
The Federal Government’s envoy will on Thursday arrive Pretoria to speak with President Cyril Ramaphosa on the xenophobic attacks on foreigners in South Africa, especially Nigerians.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Muhammad Bello, has called on residents of the territory, especially students and youths, not to carry out retaliatory attacks on South African nationals and business interests in the FCT.
Bello, in a statement by his media aide, Anthony Ogunleye, said the Federal Government was already exploring diplomatic channels to address the issue, appealing that residents should allow the efforts to succeed.
He added that the South African business interests in the FCT were set up in partnership with Nigerian investors and were contributing to the economic development of the city.
“Attacking or vandalising them will ultimately have negative economic consequences for the Nigerian economy and employees of those organisations,” he said.
The minister also assured South African nationals and business interests of their safety, adding that it was the pleasure of the administration to have them living and working in the FCT.
