ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), a non-governmental organisation working on human rights and social justice has condemned the xenophobic attack going on in South Africa.
It called on African governments, and African Union to speak with one voice and take the necessary steps in finding a lasting solution to the xenophobic attacks.
it said Xenophobia is causing rage, loss of lives, and loss of livelihoods on the African continent.
Country Director, AAN, Ene Obi stated that “Unemployment, poverty, widening the gap of inequality, little investment in human capital development; particularly lack of investment in the youths across the continent.
Lack of service delivery which are governance shortfalls” are the drivers of xenophobia and other associated reprisals.
“As an anti-poverty organisation, we are concerned about the situation and how it undermines Africa’s socio-economic and political integration which is needed to fight poverty on the continent.
“For instance, the Africa Free Trade Agreement that envisages an African market without borders, provides for exchange of technology, sustainable development models among others may not yield the desired result,.
These reprisals, if not curtailed quickly, will undermine efforts at building an integrated economic power that is able to compete and negotiate with regional blocs such as the European Union.
A statement by Lola Ayanda, Communications Coordinator, ActionAid Nigeria at the weekend said, “According to World Data Lab, 1 in 3 Africans – 422 million people – live below the poverty line and represent 70% of the world’s poorest people.
Evidently, the fight against poverty in Africa, according to Ene Obi, requires a united policy front between African governments and a strong relationship between and within the people on the continent rather than disunity.
She implored all African governments and the African Union to develop and build mutual trust among its member countries that is required to move the continent forward.
Speaking on the reactions by Nigerians to a fake video that led to reprisal attacks in Nigeria, Ene said: “Journalists and media organisations in the country have a strategic role to play in countering fake news quickly before things degenerate”.
Finally, Ene called on all journalists in the country to always fact check information before circulation. She enjoined all Nigerians to be calm, law-abiding . She however charged and the Federal Government of Nigeria to ensure the safety of all Nigerian’s in South Africa and the diaspora in general.
