Nigerian Senate considers diplomatic review with South Africa over xenophobic attacks
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
The Nigerian Senate is considering a review of diplomatic relations with South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians. Lawmakers condemned the targeting of Nigerian citizens and businesses, with a motion highlighting a June 30, 2026, ultimatum allegedly issued to Nigerians in South Africa. Senators urged the Federal Government to secure guarantees for the protection of Nigerians and to engage diplomatically to prevent future incidents. While some senators advocated for a tougher stance, including severing diplomatic ties, former Senate Leader Yahaya Abdullahi cautioned that the attacks might be part of a broader political agenda to destabilize the South African government. The Senate passed resolutions directing the Federal Government to obtain written assurances from South Africa regarding the safety of Nigerians, demand the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, and compile records of victims for legal redress and compensation. Lawmakers also called for collaboration with other African countries and the African Union to establish an early warning and accountability mechanism. Proposals to sever diplomatic relations or appropriate profits of South African companies were withdrawn after Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau urged restraint, pending an investigation by the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The matter has been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for further investigation, with a report due within two weeks.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The Debt Management Office DMO has launched the July 2026 FGN Savings Bond subscription, offering Nigerians investment opportunities with annual returns of up to 15.716 percent. This rate represents the highest interest offered since the beginning of the year. The DMO, acting on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, announced that the subscription window opened on July 6 and will close on July 10, with settlement scheduled for July 15. This initiative aims to provide retail investors with access to low-risk, government-backed securities, promote financial inclusion, and encourage savings. The offer includes two bond instruments: a two-year FGN Savings Bond due July 15, 2028, with a 14.716 percent annual interest, and a three-year bond due July 15, 2029, offering 15.716 percent annually. These rates show a significant increase of over 94 basis points compared to the June Savings Bonds. The bonds are priced at 1,000 naira per unit, with a minimum subscription of 5,000 naira and a maximum of 50,000,000 naira. Interest payments are made quarterly, and the principal is repaid in full at maturity. The FGN Savings Bond offers several benefits, including tax exemptions for pension funds, and is backed by the full faith and credit of the Federal Government of Nigeria. They are also listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, allowing for secondary market trading, and qualify as liquid assets for banks and eligible securities for trustees.
Professor Chinedu Neboh, former Minister of Power and current Vice-Chancellor of the University on the Niger, has advised Nigerian nurses and other healthcare professionals to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset. He emphasized that salaries alone are no longer sufficient for financial security in Nigeria's current economic climate. Speaking at the launch of the Primecare Nursing Practice PNP Programme by the GEANCO Foundation, Neboh stated that developing entrepreneurial skills is crucial for healthcare workers to thrive and enhance healthcare delivery. He contrasted the present economic situation with the early 1980s, when modest salaries could sustain families. Neboh also challenged the notion that nursing is solely a pathway to migration, highlighting significant opportunities within Nigeria for those willing to establish sustainable healthcare businesses. He announced that the University on the Niger Institute for Lifelong Learning would partner with the GEANCO Foundation to certify participants of the program. The GEANCO Foundation stated that the PNP Programme aims to strengthen nurse-led primary healthcare by equipping registered nurses and midwives with advanced clinical, leadership, and practice management skills, ultimately improving access to quality healthcare for mothers, children, and underserved communities.
Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, a human rights lawyer and lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra IPOB, has called on Ndigbo to move beyond emotional and destructive rhetoric, rejecting narratives that promote bloodshed and division. Ejiofor emphasized that the Biafra struggle should not be based on falsehoods and propaganda, noting that misinformation has harmed people in the South-East. He advocated for a peaceful, disciplined, and people-centered approach to self-determination, stressing that the future of Ndigbo depends on wisdom, strategic leadership, truth, and a commitment to human life and dignity, rather than conflict. Ejiofor, who holds the title ‘Dunu–Ezeugosinachi’, stated that propaganda distorts facts and destroys independent judgment, asserting that no cause can succeed if built on manipulation. He highlighted that history shows the devastating human cost when comforting falsehoods replace uncomfortable truths. Ejiofor found recent developments under the leadership of the Directorate of State of IPOB, headed by Mazi Chika Edoziem, encouraging, as he believes this new leadership has moved away from previous patterns of misinformation and deception. He concluded that transparency, honesty, and accountability are essential guiding principles if the aspiration for self-determination is genuinely rooted in justice and collective welfare.