Nigeria’s Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has stated that Nigeria will not take retaliatory measures against South Africa.

Akpabio made this known while responding to the proposal by Senator Adams Oshiomhole that operational licenses of South African companies such as MTN and DSTV in Nigeria should be invoked against South Africa in retaliation for the xenophobic attacks.

However, the Senate President stated that Nigeria will not invoke economic retaliation against South Africa despite the persistent xenophobic attacks against its citizens.

He asserted that diplomatic engagement in resolving the crisis would be the best options in the best interest of the two countries.

Specifically, the Senate President noted that economic retaliation against businesses would not be the preferred course of action

Akpabio asserted that the Senate views the reported attacks as serious and will address the matter with the urgency it deserves.

However, the Senate has finally resolved to constitute a joint ad hoc committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to address the rising cases of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.

The committee, to be led by the Chairman of the National Assembly, will undertake a fact-finding and diplomatic visit to South Africa aimed at finding lasting solutions to the crisis.

As part of its mandate, the delegation is expected to visit the South African Parliament to formally express Nigeria’s strong displeasure over the reported attacks.

The Senate also plans to write to the Speaker of the South African Parliament, as well as invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs to brief lawmakers on the outcomes of their engagements.

The upper chamber also upheld a resolution by Senator Simon Lalong calling for a review of resolutions reached during a 2019 bilateral meeting between Nigeria and South Africa, with a view to ensuring their implementation.