Xenophobic Attacks: Foreign Affairs Minister Hints At Expropriation Of 120 South African Companies In Nigeria

Over 120 companies in the country which are owned by South Africans may be taken over by the Federal Government of Nigeria if South Africans continue to make Nigerians victims of Xenophobia, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, has submitted.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed this on Thursday while addressing concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa as they continued to get killed in xenophobic attacks there..

The minister said Nigeria had exercised restraint and continued to pursue diplomatic engagements but however warned that the government may be compelled to explore other options if the attacks continue..

‘As I noted before, there are these huge conglomerates. By the way, there are over 120 South African companies operating in Nigeria.

Nobody is asking them to provide proof of identity. Nobody is asking South African staff working there whether they are South Africans or Nigerians, and nobody is taking over their shops or businesses.

But this is happening to Nigerians in South Africa. So, I think that at some point, we really have to review the options available to us.

We have MTN, MultiChoice, Stanbic, Protea and many other South African brands spanning multiple sectors’ the minister submitted while noting that any retaliatory measures will be made to follow constitutional provisions and due process.

The Federal Government, she added, is currently engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels, while the National Assembly will play a constitutional role in determining Nigeria’s response should those efforts fail.

 ‘When it comes to situations like this, of course, it is necessary to be temperate and exercise caution. But when your citizens are being harassed, when your citizens are people who have spent years there, and mind you, some of them are married to South Africans and have children who have known no other home but South Africa, then it becomes a serious concern.

Now, under these circumstances, they are asking not just Nigerians, but also their South African spouses and their children, to leave South Africa’ she said.

Recall that Senator Adams Oshiomhole had last month asked the FG to consider the idea of taking over South African companies in the country following the attacks on Nigerians in South Africa-Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079,  08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you