Air Peace Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Allen Onyema has called on Nigerians to respond to recurring xenophobic attacks in South Africa through a deliberate economic boycott rather than violence.
Speaking on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onyema urged Nigerians to halt investments in South Africa while welcoming South African businesses into Nigeria — but strictly on Nigeria’s own terms.
“The kind of retaliation I want is for Nigerians to boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country. If they want to invest in our country, let them bring their money and invest, and you determine how they take the money back. That is non-violence action,” he said.
Onyema expressed frustration at what he described as deliberate inaction by South African authorities during xenophobic unrest, questioning why security forces failed to intervene as foreign nationals were harassed and forced from their homes.
He also defended the contributions of Nigerian migrants to the South African economy, arguing that many had established businesses and created employment opportunities for locals — only to be met with hostility.
While endorsing former Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s call for retaliation, Onyema was clear that his preferred response was economic, not physical. He opposed street attacks on South Africans in Nigeria and rejected calls to shut down South African-owned companies such as MTN, noting that Nigerians hold shares in those firms and depend on them for jobs.
His remarks come as anti-foreigner protests intensify in parts of South Africa, where demonstrators have issued a June 30 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave — prompting Nigeria and other countries to begin repatriation efforts.
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