Nigeria imposes sanctions on South Africa, and implements a total trade boycott

Updated: 9 Apr 2020

On 11 April 1961, Nigeria imposed a trade boycott on South Africa, due to objections against South Africa's apartheid policy. In early 1960, Nigeria had decided to ban all imports from South Africa, and was reportedly in the process of refusing facilities for South African aircraft. However, this process became unnecessary as South Africa decided to bypass Nigerian airports. Trade sanctions and boycotts aimed to put pressure on the South African government to abandon its discriminatory racial policies. These policies were harshly criticized in the international community - especially after the Sharpeville Massacre in 1960.

How we know this

01(1965), "Notes on the Origins of the Movement for Sanctions against South Africa", from geocities.com, [offline], Index unavailable [Accessed: 01 April 2009]
02Nigerialogy, (2013), This Week in Nigerian History, from Nigerialogy, 20 April [online], Available at www.nigerialogy.com [Accessed: 10 April 2014]

Last updated · 9 Apr 2020

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Nigeria imposes sanctions on South Africa, and implements a total trade boycott. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011925

South African History Online (2011) 'Nigeria imposes sanctions on South Africa, and implements a total trade boycott', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011925 (Accessed: 13 October 2026).

South African History Online, Nigeria imposes sanctions on South Africa, and implements a total trade boycott [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011925, (accessed 13 October 2026).

"Nigeria imposes sanctions on South Africa, and implements a total trade boycott." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011925. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

South African History Online. "Nigeria imposes sanctions on South Africa, and implements a total trade boycott." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0011925.