Tuggar condemns focusing on of Nigerians, different black Africans in South Africa

Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, has condemned the focusing on of Nigerians and different black Africans in South Africa for assault.

Tuggar mentioned the state of affairs was higher described as Afrophobia than xenophobia, as non-black Africans gave the impression to be exempted from the anti-migrant sentiments.

Tuggar spoke in Lagos Thursday on the Bridge Club 2026 end-year occasion with the theme: “We are family”.

He, nonetheless, pressured the significance of understanding the developments in South Africa inside their historic context.

He said that their historic context shouldn’t be interpreted as justification for the state of affairs.

He mentioned: “Call it Afrophobia, which may be better description than Xenophobia (as non-black Africans appear to be exempted) or the more euphemistic framing- anti-migration protests, it is wrong and must be condemned.”

Tuggar traced the historic foundations of segregation in Africa to colonial administrative practices, significantly the system launched by Lord Frederick Lugard, which he mentioned separated the black inhabitants alongside tribal strains.

He recognized Jan Smuts as one other influential determine within the growth of institutional segregation, whereas noting that the apartheid administration underneath P.W. Botha additional entrenched divisions alongside racial, class and financial strains.

He mentioned the Homelands coverage underneath apartheid made everybody a foreigner from inside and with out, leaving lasting psychological scars.

Recalling Nigeria’s function within the battle in opposition to apartheid, Tuggar mentioned his era was formed by the marketing campaign in opposition to racist regimes and the liberation of Africa.

He added that after the Soweto bloodbath in June 1976, Nigeria adopted lots of the victims, supplied them with full scholarships and accommodated them in its boarding faculties.

He mentioned Nigeria additionally prolonged comparable help to Namibians, Angolans and others residing underneath oppression.

He added that Nigeria additionally hosted the World Conference Against Apartheid, which framed apartheid as a risk to worldwide peace and safety.

According to him, Nigeria, regardless of being financially constrained following the droop in oil costs in 1976 nationalised Barclays Bank and British Petroleum, accepting the chance of offending some Western companions.

Tuggar, nonetheless, raised questions on potential exterior influences behind anti-migrant campaigns in South Africa.

“We have to also look at exogenous factors at play. Who funds March & March and Operation Dudala? Are the online hashtags that are serving as rallying points for anti-migrant sentiments organic or engendered from outside South Africa?,”

“South Africa was accused of racism towards white farmers when Nigeria was accused of persecution of Christians. Is it a coincidence?”

The President of The Bridge Club, Abdulhakeem Mustapha, mentioned the theme of the occasion displays the membership’s philosophy of constructing bridges throughout variations, connecting folks and fostering understanding.

Mustapha mentioned hostility, intolerance, discrimination and violence in opposition to Africans undermines the continent’s aspirations.

“How can we genuinely aspire to a united Africa when an African is made to feel unwelcome, unsafe or unwanted in another African country simply because of nationality, ethnicity or origin?”

He mentioned Pan-Africanism should transcend political declarations, diplomatic conferences and financial treaties, to replicate in folks’s attitudes, conduct and establishments.