Xenophobia: We May Revoke Operating Licenses Of MTN, MultiChoice, Other S’African Firms If … FG

By Akanni Toba

The Federal Government has stated that it has not ruled out taking retaliatory measures against South African companies operating in Nigeria as xenophobic attacks against Nigerians living in the former Apartheid nation escalate.

The government noted that it has exercised restraint in the face of harassment and unprovoked attacks being perpetrated against nationals of the Africa’s most populous nation.

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs disclosed on Thursday while addressing the worsening anti-migrant attacks taking place in South Africa which have forced the Nigerian government to facilitate the evacuation of some of its citizens from the fellow African country.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu stressed that Nigeria has pursued diplomatic engagements so far adding that the government might be compelled to change tacks and explore other options if the attacks against its citizens persist.

According to the minister no company, no matter its stature or status, belonging to South Africa will be spared should Nigeria decide to get back at its fellow African nation.

“As I indicated 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,” Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.

The minister, however, stressed that any retaliatory measures would have to follow constitutional provisions and due legislative process.

She explained that the Federal Government was currently engaging South African authorities through diplomatic channels, while the National Assembly would play a constitutional role in determining Nigeria’s response should those efforts fail.

The minister also disclosed that the South African authorities discarded their memorandum of understanding with Nigeria on early warning mechanism which they had signed in October 2025.

“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,” the minister said.