National chairman of the All Progressives Congress, and APC, Adams Oshiomhole, has advised the Federal Government to review the terms of operation for South African businesses domiciled in the country.
He wondered why businesses like DSTV and MTN should continue repatriating millions of dollars to South Africa yearly from their business activities in Nigeria with very little value addition.
He insisted now was the time for the Federal Government and Nigerians to take strong measures against South African owned concerns in Nigeria.
Oshiomhole expressed his views on Thursday while speaking with reporters at the end of a closed-door meeting of the National Working Committee, NWC, of the law APC in Abuja. He was reacting to the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other foreigners in the former apartheid country.
He that Nigerians should boycott MTN for 30 days as a signal to South African authorities that they are fed up with xenophobic attacks adding, “Happily, we have indigenous networks like GLO, Airtel and 9mobile,” he said.
He spoke further: “This occasion also offers us an opportunity to reflect on why we should continue to allow DSTV to repatriate millions of dollars to South Africa every year, arising from their activities in Nigeria. We have to review all of those things that give South African companies monopoly such that they make money with very little value addition.
“It will also be an appropriate message to the South African government that until they find satisfactory explanations and pay appropriate compensations to those innocent Nigerians whose property have been looted and those who have been killed, South African Airways should be stopped.
“Their landing right should be stopped. They should not have right to fly to any part of Nigeria until these issues are sorted out. Nigerians need to show that we are not cheap to be molested. The life of every Nigerian matters whether at home or abroad.
“We need the government to recognise that Nigerians want more firm action because MTN cannot be carting away all that money; DSTV carting away so much money; Shoprite making so much money from their franchise and Stanbic Bank dealing with corporate Nigerians patronising the oil companies, making fabulous billions of dollars, yet South Africans are wasting away our young men and women who are struggling to manage small businesses.
“This is meant to give the government the support base it needs to proceed with further direct measures. Nigerians are united. We must protect Nigeria’s image and protect its citizens and businesses wherever they are. Any country that attacks our businesses, injury to one is injury all. That must be the philosophy. Nigeria first, and it must be Nigeria first at all times.”
