Lawyer and Johannesburg-based legal practitioner, Ugochukwu Anyiam, has called on the Nigerian government to negotiate with South Africa to stop Nigerians who want to leave the country from being arrested at airports.
Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Saturday, Anyiam said some Nigerians who want to return home voluntarily are unable to do so because they risk arrest when they arrive at the airport.
“A lot of people who have their own papers and the people want them to leave, but they can’t leave on their own simply because when they get to the airport, they are arrested.”
He questioned the basis for arresting people who are leaving the country after they had been asked to leave.
“They are arrested because they don’t have papers. So that drives me crazy because I ask a simple question, how do you ask somebody to leave your country and then turn around and get to the airport, and you arrest this person for leaving because you asked them to leave.”
According to Anyiam, the Nigerian and South African governments should reach an arrangement that allows Nigerians who want to leave to do so without fear of arrest.
“when it gets to this point where people are asked to leave, you know, the two governments should have a way to sit down and, you know, a blanket waiver, you know, clearance should be given to anybody who wants to leave. They shouldn’t be afraid of getting to the airport, you know.”
He said the Nigerian government should raise the issue directly with its South African counterpart and seek assurances for Nigerians who are willing to return home.
“So the government of Nigeria need to come on board, you know, have a negotiation with South African government, get them informed that, yeah, Nigerians who want to leave, yes, they have them documented, they can buy their own ticket, but why are they arrested when they get to the airport? Why are they arrested?”
Anyiam described the situation as a double standard and said it should be addressed through direct engagement between both governments.
“So that means you do, it’s a double standard. So those are the areas that must be looked into to see why is the federal government of Nigeria not sitting down with the government of South Africa, negotiating this, you ask my people to leave, and then leave without being intimidated by the arrest at the airport.”
He said the issue had not received enough attention and should be treated separately from the broader evacuation efforts.
“That is one area that has not been talked about enough, and it must be separated from that rest.”
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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