Nigeria will compensate victims of SA attacks - Obanikoro

Nigeria's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs II, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, is hopeful that citizens affected by the xenophobic attacks in South Africa will be compensated.

Since the renewed attacks started last week, several Nigerians have lost their businesses and other belongings to fire set by locals on buildings where their businesses were housed. Senator Obanikoro said that Nigerian High Commissioner, Martin Cobham and other delegations were taking stock of damages done to Nigerians to ensure that adequate compensation would be given to them.

"We have situations where some of our people lost their shops in this attack. "We are taking stock of the damages done to them and we are going to be engaging the South African Government," Senator Obanikoro said.

He stated that the South African government had been exploring different avenues to end the attacks that have claimed several lives in KwaZulu-Natal province.

"One of the major stakeholders who incited the South African community has called for a meeting this morning where some representatives of the affected countries would be addressed.

"Some traditional rulers will be there to see how they can douse the situation and ensure the safety of Nigerians and other nationals in South Africa. We are working on how best we can get a lasting solution to the problem," the Nigerian Minister said.

The Minister further urged Nigerians to remain calm even in the face of the situation, addressing suggestions that South African businesses in Nigeria should be grounded.

"It is an international situation and to localise it will be unfortunate and it will not yield the desired result. "Two wrongs do not make a right. I think Nigeria should rise above sentiments that there should be a reprisal. The way we have conducted ourselves is the best.

"We are brothers and sisters and the best is to find a way out of our challenges rather than deepen it," he said, assuring Nigerians that the government is making serious attempt to ensure that the issue is properly mitigated.

A meeting between traditional rulers, religious, community leaders and other stakeholders will hold on Monday in South Africa, as the government is exploring all avenues to put an end to the xenophobic attack.