Nigeria has boycotted the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa 2019 taking place in Cape Town and also advised citizens against going to South Africa.
Nigeria, which is protesting against the xenophobic attack in its citizen in South Africa, refused to attend the Forum which kicked off on Wednesday.
The Federal Government has also reinforced the deployment of police to South African businesses across the country to stop the raging attacks on South African businesses in Nigeria.
The government advised those wishing to travel to South Africa to either shelve their plans or ensure they shun high risk and volatile areas.
The spokesperson to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Ferdinand Nwonye, said on Wednesday that the government was engaging the relevant South African authorities.
The engagement is being facilitated through the Nigerian High Commission, in Pretoria; the Consulate General in Johannesburg; and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Abuja, to ensure that definite measures were put in place to curtail the unfortunate attacks on Nigerians.
He said that Nigeria has commended South Africa for the arrest of some perpetrators of the dastardly act and called for timely prosecution of the culprits to serve as deterrence to others.
“The Federal Government condemns the renewed attacks on foreign nationals and their businesses in South Africa, which has led to the loss of lives and properties.
“However, due to the tension created by the attacks, the Government of Nigeria wishes to advice Nigerians to avoid travelling to high risk and volatile areas until the situation is brought under control,” he said.
Nigeria, he said, is committed to protecting the lives and properties of Nigerians in South Africa.
MM/GIK/APA