On the heels of the spate of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Foreigners in south Africa, some Nigerians have expressed reasons why they would rather remain in South Africa than return to Nigeria.
With a record 30,000 Nigerians living in South Africa and counting, many expected the number of returnees to be more, but less than 1% of this figure seized the opportunity of a free plane to return to their homeland suggestive that they may be weighing the options.
Meanwhile, back in South Africa, foreign nationals among whom are Nigerians, are still locked indoors for fear of further attacks, with their work places still a shadow of what they used to be.
In a conversation with CONTROL TV some blame the economic condition back home in Nigeria, as the major reason they are reluctant to return citing insurgency in the North-East by Boko Haram, Farmer Herders Crisis, Kidnapping and other Infrastructure deficit.
A Nigerian Male who wants to remain anonymous, said quote“ Government is saying we should come home when there are no plans on ground for us.
The Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission Abike Dabiri-Erewa revealed the commission will work with the Bank of Industry B.O.I on vocational initiatives for interested returnees.
The returnees have maintained that the bane of growth in Nigeria is the epileptic supply of electricity.
“Nigerian government should address the issue of electricity, about 75% of Nigerians in South Africa will return home because our work needs unhindered electricity supply…
If there is constant electricity supply in Nigeria, Nigerians who have invested here in South Africa will return home. This is an essential need Government must address”.
Another resident submission on the matter is that the attacks are perpetrated by youths who live in hostels. These hostels are in Hillbrow, Malvern, Orlando and are paid to attack foreigners.
“There has been calls to scrap these hostels and give these people jobs. But they are not ready to work because they are used to getting free money.
He Claims that South African women go after men from other countries and abandon their men sparking rage against Foreigners.
“At the moment , everyone is indoors. Fortunately, the ongoing crisis is not only affecting Nigerians and other foreign nationals. It is also affecting South Africans because some of them owned the burnt shops we rented for our businesses. Also some buildings that were destroyed are owned by South Africans.
For instance, “I have three South Africans as employees. Like me, they have not reported to work since last Monday’s attack.
The solution is not in Nigerians or other African countries nationals leaving South Africa. It is left in the hands of the South African Government to address activities of these hostel boys”.
(C) Control TV 2019.
