Nigeria, South Africa Stand Up for an Abused Continent

Time and again, the advanced countries of the world treat Africa in a most disrespectable manner. And when they do, they act from the perspective that Africa cannot do anything. Thus, when recently, the United Kingdom, Canada and Saudi Arabia banned Nigerians from entering their country.  on account of the Omicron Variant of COVID 19, Nigerians were livid. Members of the international community were aghast They saw no reason for such punitive actions giving that the world had long past the hypocrisy of pointing fingers in a rapidly changing pandemic environment. Beyond accusations and expressions of sympathy, all eyes were on the Federal Government.

The Federal Government did not keep people waiting for too long. A few days later, Nigeria reciprocated the gesture by slamming or threatening to slam a ban on those countries. Quickly, they demurred. In the brisk reaction below, banker, policy Czar, accomplished technocrat and politician, SONY IROCHE, applauds the Federal Government’s response and hopes that never again would other countries take Nigeria or Africa for granted. His view is reproduced below:

The United Kingdom (UK) has realized that its mistaken knee jerk reaction of placing a number of predominantly African countries on its Red List of countries, by lifting the ban and restrictions on flights from 11 predominantly African countries.

When Canada and the UK banned flights from South Africa and some other Southern African countries due to the Omicron variant of Covid-19, in November, a couple of days prior to the State visit of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa to Nigeria; President Ramaphosa quickly condemned the move by those countries, while his Nigerian counterpart, President Buhari immediately, rose in support of Ramaphosa, in a statesmanlike expression of solidarity.

Only, Nigeria was surprisingly added to the UK red list, to which, Nigeria, in a show of diplomatic bravado, reciprocated by placing the UK on her red list too. 

In less than 48 hours of Nigeria’s reciprocal reactions to both the UK and UAE, the two countries ran with their tails between their legs to reverse their ill- thought out knee jerk reactions of banning flights from African countries. 

The swift reciprocal reaction against the UK and the UAE by President Buhari is the kind of African Union and solidarity required, in order for African countries to send a clear message to the rest of the world, that Africa has come of age and to hold our heads high as a Continent, that has over the years evolved into a respectable continent and must be respected. As a people, Africans are very respectful. But this should, however, never be misconstrued to be subservient to any other country or continent, no matter how powerful they may think that they are. 

Going forward now, with the inauguration of the Joint Ministerial Council on Industry, Trade & Investment between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Republic of South Africa, the two leading economies in Africa must form more collaborative ties, to give respectability to Africa.

Nigeria definitely does not suffer fools gladly. At times, when the need arises, Nigeria, practices the Old Testament doctrine of: “An Eye For An Eye”. Kudos and commendation to Presidents Buhari and Ramaphosa for making Africa proud. 

The message is clear. DON’T MESS WITH AFRICA AGAIN 

Sonny Iroche – Chairman Strategic Alliance Promotion Company of Nigeria. And a Member, Joint Ministerial Council on Industry Trade & Investment, Between Nigeria & South Africa