A DIPLOMATIC row has erupted between South Africa and Nigeria, with the West African state accusing President Jacob Zuma's government of being "un-African and disrespectful".
Last Thursday, 125 Nigerians landed at OR Tambo International Airport. The group was, however, prevented from entering the country because they did not have the required documentation for vaccination against yellow fever.
The following day, 75 of them were sent back home via the South African Airways while another 50 were flown back through Nigerian airline Arik Air.
Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Gbenga Ashiru vowed to retaliate for what he termed a "disrespectful" attitude from South Africa.
"I find the action as totally unfriendly and un-African. They should know that they do not have a monopoly of deporting travellers.
"Henceforth, for every 10 Nigerians that are deported, Nigeria will take decisive and reciprocal actions. All requirements must be met before we consider the issue resolved," Ashiru was quoted as saying in the Nigerian media.
In a move seen to be retaliatory, on Monday night 28 South Africans were turned back at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, and another 56 were deported the following day.
International Relations and Cooperation Department spokesman Clayson Monyela said Nigeria was blowing things out of proportion and mixing issues.
"This is a health matter, not a diplomatic issue. Now that it's being elevated to a diplomatic level, we will deal with it," said Monyela, promising a press briefing to clarify the matter today.
Home Affairs Department spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said: "This is standard international protocol. The public must understand that communicable diseases must be controlled."
Fidel Hadebe of the Department of Health said: "We were in line with our policies, which we do not just wake up and write. We follow WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines. Everything was done according to book."
Hadebe said the department had a responsibility to protect the country's borders from the spread of diseases.
Stand-off after SA deports 125 Nigerians
A DIPLOMATIC row has erupted between South Africa and Nigeria, with the West African state accusing President Jacob Zuma's government of being "un-African and disrespectful".
Last Thursday, 125 Nigerians landed at OR Tambo International Airport. The group was, however, prevented from entering the country because they did not have the required documentation for vaccination against yellow fever.
The following day, 75 of them were sent back home via the South African Airways while another 50 were flown back through Nigerian airline Arik Air.
Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister Gbenga Ashiru vowed to retaliate for what he termed a "disrespectful" attitude from South Africa.
"I find the action as totally unfriendly and un-African. They should know that they do not have a monopoly of deporting travellers.
"Henceforth, for every 10 Nigerians that are deported, Nigeria will take decisive and reciprocal actions. All requirements must be met before we consider the issue resolved," Ashiru was quoted as saying in the Nigerian media.
In a move seen to be retaliatory, on Monday night 28 South Africans were turned back at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, and another 56 were deported the following day.
International Relations and Cooperation Department spokesman Clayson Monyela said Nigeria was blowing things out of proportion and mixing issues.
"This is a health matter, not a diplomatic issue. Now that it's being elevated to a diplomatic level, we will deal with it," said Monyela, promising a press briefing to clarify the matter today.
Home Affairs Department spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa said: "This is standard international protocol. The public must understand that communicable diseases must be controlled."
Fidel Hadebe of the Department of Health said: "We were in line with our policies, which we do not just wake up and write. We follow WHO (World Health Organisation) guidelines. Everything was done according to book."
Hadebe said the department had a responsibility to protect the country's borders from the spread of diseases.
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