The National President of the Africa Association of Professional Freight Forwarders and Logistics of Nigeria (APFFLON), Otunba Frank Ogunojemite, has warned that the recurring xenophobic attacks and anti-immigration protests in South Africa pose a major threat to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Ogunojemite made the statement on Saturday while commending the Federal government for its swift evacuation of Nigerians affected by the recent wave of violence in South Africa.
He described the intervention as a clear demonstration of the government’s commitment to protecting the lives and welfare of its citizens abroad.

According to him, the prompt response had restored confidence among Nigerians and reaffirmed the government’s responsibility to defend the interests of its people wherever they may be.

However, he expressed concern over the repeated attacks on fellow Africans in South Africa, noting that such hostility undermined the objectives of AfCFTA, which was established to promote economic integration, facilitate the free movement of goods and services, encourage investment and deepen economic cooperation across the continent.

He insisted that trade and investment could not flourish in an atmosphere where African traders, investors, businesses and legitimate migrants were exposed to intimidation, discrimination and violence.

He noted that xenophobic attacks directly contradicted the vision of a borderless African market and could discourage businesses from taking advantage of opportunities created by the continental free trade agreement.

Ogunojemite urged African governments, the African Union, the AfCFTA secretariat and regional economic organisations to strongly condemn the attacks and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.

He cautioned against treating the incidents with kid gloves, stressing that weak responses or silence could embolden perpetrators and further erode confidence in regional integration efforts.

The APFFLON President further called on the Federal government to intensify efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s economy by investing in critical infrastructure, ensuring stable electricity supply, modernising the nation’s ports, reducing the cost of doing business and promoting industrialisation.

He said building a resilient and competitive economy remained Nigeria’s best response to external challenges.

He said: “The greatest response to external challenges is to build a resilient and competitive economy. Nigeria must concentrate on creating an enabling environment for businesses, manufacturers, exporters, freight forwarders and logistics operators to thrive.
“A stronger economy will position Nigeria to maximise the enormous opportunities presented by AfCFTA.”

Ogunojemite reaffirmed APFFLON’s commitment to supporting policies that promote seamless trade, efficient freight forwarding, logistics development and regional economic integration, while urging African leaders to uphold the principles of unity, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence as essential ingredients for sustainable economic growth across the continent.