Xenophobia: Oshiomhole asks FG to take over South African-owned businesses

A call to nationalize South African-owned businesses in Nigeria has been made by the national Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshiomhole, days after Nigerian businesses were attacked by South Africans in a recent xenophobic attack. 

Speaking at the end of an emergency National Working Committee (NWC) meeting of the APC in Abuja on Thursday September 5, the former Governor of Edo State said that a boycott of MTN which is one of the South African owned businesses in Nigeria, will send a strong message. 

“In order to send a very strong message to South African authorities and the South African people, it is worth it for the Nigerian government to take steps to take over the remaining shares of MTN that are owned by South Africans so that MTN becomes fully Nigeria-owned.

“If Nigeria decides at least for the next 30 days to stop using MTN, they would have sent a clear message,” Oshiomhole said.

Asides asking for a complete takeover of businesses owned by South Africans in Nigeria, Oshimhole also told the Nigerian government to revoke licenses granted to banks owned by South Africans in the country.

He added, “We should no longer sacrifice our own national interest just because we want to be the big brother of a people that does not recognise the role, the enormous and the huge sacrifices that our country has made over the years to protect and defend the interest of the African continent.

“While South African government is envious of the small businesses which Nigerians are involved in South Africa, South African companies are making billions of dollars from the Nigerian economy year in year out and repatriating same out of Nigeria,” Oshiomhole added.