The Federal Government has asked Nigerians to stop attacking South African businesses such as Shoprite, MTN etc. saying investors and workers in the c
The Federal Government has asked Nigerians to stop attacking South African businesses such as Shoprite, MTN etc. saying investors and workers in the companies are Nigerians. The Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture, Segun Adeyemi, in a statement on Tuesday, said the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described as disturbing reports that angry Nigerians had started attacking South African companies in Nigeria.
He said targeting South African companies in Nigeria for attack was akin to cutting off one’s nose to spite the face because the investors in such companies, especially MTN and Shoprite, are Nigerians. Mohammed said the majority of the workers in the South African companies operating in Nigeria were also Nigerians, meaning that Nigerian workers would be the hardest hit if the companies were forced to shut down.
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was already taking measures to put an end to persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched a Special Envoy to convey to his South African counterpart, President Cyril Ramaphosa, his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation. Also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, acting on the instruction of Mr. President, has summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria to get a brief on the situation; express Nigeria’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and secure assurance of the safety of their lives and property,” the minister said.
