Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to appropriate the profits of South African companies operating in Nigeria and use the funds to compensate Nigerians who lost businesses, properties and loved ones during xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The former Edo State governor made the call on Tuesday during plenary in the Senate while reacting to comments by South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who ruled out compensation for affected Nigerians.
Ntshavheni had reportedly stated that compensation would only be available for legally registered properties, arguing that businesses operating in informal settlements did not qualify for government compensation.
She also referenced alleged drug-related activities involving some Nigerians in South Africa while defending her government’s position.
Reacting to the remarks, Oshiomhole described the refusal to compensate affected Nigerians as unacceptable, insisting that the destruction of lives and businesses could not be justified on the basis of property registration.
“Following comments by the South African minister to the effect that compensation will not be paid to those Nigerians whose properties were looted, shops bombed and lives even lost, the government of Nigeria should reciprocate by appropriating the profit accrued from South African companies, including their banks, IBTC, and use the money to pay Nigerians,” he said.
The senator argued that the deadline issued to Nigerians to leave South Africa had been enforced by a mob, with the South African government allegedly failing to prevent the attacks.
“We cannot allow a situation where our people take taxpayers’ money to pay compensation while South African investment and profit is being taken away untouched.
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“I urge that the profit be appropriated and used to settle those who have been brutally attacked, whose businesses have been bombed and whose lives have been lost.
“This does not require any further investigation because the facts are self-evident,” Oshiomhole added.
South African companies, including telecommunications giant MTN and several financial institutions, have significant investments in Nigeria, making the country one of their largest markets on the African continent.
The latest remarks are expected to reignite debate over Nigeria’s response to repeated xenophobic attacks on its citizens in South Africa and the broader implications for diplomatic and economic relations between both countries.
