The Federal government has denied recalling its High Commissioner in South Africa over the ongoing xenophobic attacks.
There were earlier reports that Nigeria has recalled its High Commissioner in South Africa following calls by federal lawmakers that the presidency should recall the envoy for consultations.
Acting High Commissioner, Martin Cobham and Deputy High Commissioner, Uche Ajulu-Okeke, were said to had been asked to return to Nigeria for consultations, according to a statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
“The invitation is in connection with the on-going xenophobia in South Africa targeting foreigners, mainly African migrants,” the statement said.
The South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation, described the purported recall of Nigeria’s High Commissioner as an “unfortunate and regrettable” diplomatic step.
In a statement, Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for DIRCO, said the South African government was shocked that the Nigerian government would resort “to such an extraordinary diplomatic step to express outrage at actions or behaviour of another government”.
“We are not sure which actions or behaviour of the South African Government the Nigerian Government is protesting,” Mr. Monyela said.
“It is only Nigeria that has taken this unfortunate and regrettable step. If this action is based on the incidents of attacks on foreign nationals in some parts of our country, it would be curious for a sisterly country to want to exploit such a painful episode for whatever agenda.”
However, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has denied that the country recalled the envoy. He said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the High Commissioner.
“Please disregard rumours and reports that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recalled its High Commissioner to South Africa.
The MFA summoned the Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa for consultation. He was not recalled,” he noted in his tweet.
Seven people have been killed in attacks on migrants since March 20, when Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini spoke out against foreign workers
