The Nigerian government has issued a strong warning against reprisal attacks on South Africans and their businesses, following days of xenophobic violence in South Africa that left at least seven dead. The statement, released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, urged Nigerians to refrain from retaliatory violence, stressing that such actions would only harm the continent's collective economic interests.
The appeal comes as the United Kingdom intensifies its push for a post-Brexit trade deal with Africa, one that London hopes will build on existing relationships and foster unity. But on the ground, the reality is starkly different. In Lagos, traders at the Balogun Market told me they have seen South African-owned shops boarded up, their owners fearful of reprisals. 'We cannot let anger destroy our livelihoods,' said Chidi Okafor, a textile seller. 'But how can we trade when our brothers are being killed in their own homes?'
For ordinary Nigerians, many of whom are already struggling with a cost of living crisis, the violence in South Africa is a bitter blow. The country's economy has been battered by the pandemic, inflation running at 17%, and the naira in freefall. Now, the threat of economic retaliation looms. The government's plea for calm is not just about morality. It is about survival. Nigeria and South Africa are the two largest economies on the continent. Any breakdown in relations could derail the African Continental Free Trade Area, a deal that promises to boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2025.
But the UK's push for trade unity, led by Trade Secretary Liam Fox, might be the real story here. With Brexit done, Britain is scrambling for new markets. Africa, with its young population and growing consumer base, is a prime target. Yet the recent violence in South Africa exposes the fragility of this vision. If African countries cannot protect each other's citizens and businesses, what hope is there for a unified trade bloc?
In the streets of Kano, a union leader named Fatima Bello put it bluntly: 'The government talks about trade deals and billion-pound investments. But I cannot afford a bag of rice. My husband's factory has closed. We are not united. We are not strong. And the UK knows it.' Her words echo across the continent. The conflict in South Africa is not just a moral crisis. It is a roadblock on the path to economic integration.
As the UK prepares to host the UK-Africa Investment Summit next month, the message from the streets is clear. Trade unity cannot be built on a foundation of xenophobia and inequality. The price of bread must come down first.
