Former All Progressives Congress national chairman Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Nigerian government to adopt stronger counter measures against South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians, including the seizure of South African-owned businesses and a temporary ban on their services.
Speaking at an emergency National Working Committee meeting in Abuja, Oshiomhole said Nigeria must send a clear message to Pretoria after years of repeated assaults on its citizens. He accused the African National Congress-led government of showing “cold indifference” to the killings and alleged that statements from senior South African officials suggested official endorsement of the violence. “Nigerians are operating within the letters of the law set by the South African government,” he said. “Over the past few years, virtually every other week, Nigerians have been wasted in one part of South Africa or the other.”
As part of his proposals, Oshiomhole urged the federal government to take over the remaining South African shares in MTN to make the telecoms company fully Nigerian-owned. He also called for a temporary 30-day boycott of MTN services, arguing that such a move “would have sent a clear message.” Beyond MTN, he demanded the revocation of licenses granted to South African-owned banks operating in Nigeria and a halt to South African Airways flights into the country. “South African Airways should be stopped, its landing right should be withdrawn and should not have the right to fly any part of Nigeria until these issues are resolved,” he said.
The APC chairman also pushed for compensation for Nigerians whose properties have been looted during the attacks, insisting that Pretoria must offer a satisfactory explanation and be held accountable. “We must protect Nigeria’s image, its citizens and businesses wherever they are,” he added.
The comments come amid rising diplomatic tensions after at least two Nigerians were reported dead in separate incidents involving South African security personnel in April. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Amamiro Chidiebere Emmanuel died on April 25 from injuries sustained during a beating by South African National Defence Force personnel on April 20 in Port Elizabeth, while Nnaemeka Matthew Andrew’s body was found at the Pretoria Central Mortuary on April 20 following an alleged encounter with Tshwane Metro Police. “This is utterly condemnable and unacceptable,” the ministry said.
Nigeria’s foreign ministry has already summoned South Africa’s Acting High Commissioner in Abuja and confirmed that 130 Nigerians have applied for voluntary evacuation amid fears of further violence. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu said the government is arranging voluntary repatriation flights and is working with South African authorities to ensure the safety of citizens. “Nigerian lives and businesses in SA must not continue to be put at risk,” she said.
The federal government has also condemned threats linked to groups such as Operation Dudula and warned against incitement and intimidation. In a statement, it stressed the need for immediate and transparent investigations into the deaths and demanded “appropriate disciplinary and prosecutorial action” where wrongdoing is established.
While Oshiomhole has advocated for firm economic retaliation, Attorney-General of the Federation Abubakar Malami has cautioned against retaliatory attacks on South African-owned businesses in Nigeria, warning that such actions could harm the local economy and cost millions of jobs. “We must always look at this situation very critically; it is important that people should not take laws into their hands,” Malami said.
The diplomatic fallout continues as more protests are planned in Pretoria and Johannesburg on May 4 and May 8, with Nigerian officials saying they will be monitoring developments closely.
