Sen. Adams Oshiomhole, on Tuesday, for the revocation of licenses for South African firms operating in Nigeria, including MTN and MultiChoice, the owners of DSTV, in response to escalating xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
The call came as the National Assembly condemned the most recent series of attacks and urged the federal government to take prompt diplomatic and protective steps to protect Nigerian nationals abroad.
Speaking during plenary, Oshiomhole stated that Nigeria must reply decisively, citing the concept of reciprocity in international relations.
He said, “I don’t want this Senate to be shedding tears to sympathize with those who have died. We didn’t come here to share tears.
“If you hit me, I’ll hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It’s an economic struggle.”
The former NLC chairman proposed that Nigeria should nationalize MTN and withdraw its operating license, arguing that the company repatriates significant revenue while Nigerians face hostility in South Africa.
“This Senate should adopt a position that MTN, a South African company that is cutting away millions of dollars from Nigeria every day, should have Nigeria nationalize it and withdraw its license,” he said.
According to him, such action will not only prevent but also provide chances for local enterprises, despite what he termed as economic and social targeting of Nigerians abroad.
He expanded the appeal to MultiChoice, pushing the federal government to remove DSTV’s license due to alleged exploitative tactics.
“I call on the federal government to revoke DSTV, which is also a South African company that is cutting away millions of dollars,” he said.
Oshiomhole related the reoccurring problems to South Africa’s domestic political dynamics, pointing out that anti-immigrant rhetoric had become a part of its politics, molding public sentiments toward foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
“When we hit back, the president of South Africa will go on his knees to recognize that Nigerians cannot be intimidated,” he said.
The senator made the remarks while speaking to a resolution presented by Osita Izunaso and read on the floor by Aniekan Bassey in accordance with Senate procedures on matters of urgent public interest.
Titled “A call for urgent national diplomatic and humanitarian action to defend the dignity, safety, and honor of Nigerian citizens,” the motion highlighted growing concerns over the safety of Nigerians in South Africa.
Senator Victor Umeh also spoke out, calling the situation disturbing and warning that Nigerians were living in dread.
“It is worrisome. They are hiding for their lives. They can’t move freely. This is a situation where people are paying their lives with evil,” he said, referencing Nigeria’s historical support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
Umeh urged the African Union to intervene and impose sanctions, warning that Nigeria could no longer tolerate attacks on its citizens.
“The AU, of which South Africa is a member, should rise now and impose necessary sanctions,” he said, adding that “we cannot allow such violence to continue.”
Oshiomhole, however, doubled down on calls for economic sanctions, arguing that Nigeria must move beyond rhetoric.
“I don’t want this Senate to be shedding tears to sympathize with those who have died. We didn’t come here to shed tears. I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.
He also stated that Nigerians should take advantage of chances in the local sector, which is now controlled by foreign companies.
Senator Abdul Ningi cautioned South Africans about recent attacks against Nigerians, vowing to carry the fight to their territory.
“If a crime has been committed under South African law, they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that.
“If these things continue, we have alternatives, we have options, and therefore, these words should be sent across South Africa. We know where South Africans are, not only in Nigeria but all over Africa, and we can take this fight to their territory,” he said.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, decried the attack, adding that the National Assembly would send a joint team to meet with the South African parliament on the matter.
“This is just not acceptable; this is barbaric, this is cruel, this is unheard of, this is strange behavior, and we’re not seeing action from the government of South Africa. These are aspects that annoy me,” Akpabio said.
