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Oshiomhole Defends Call to Nationalise MTN Over Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa

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Promise Odejide

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Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has defended his controversial call for the nationalisation of MTN and other South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria following renewed xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Tuesday, Oshiomhole argued that the Nigerian government must prioritise the safety and dignity of its citizens above foreign investment concerns.

“Nigerian lives must come first”

The former Edo State governor insisted that Nigeria should consider restructuring ownership of South African companies if attacks on Nigerians continue.

“I am aware that MTN is quoted, and therefore Nigerian shareholders can hold on, but we take away the South African rights,” he said.

According to him, affected companies could later be re-privatised under Nigerian ownership.

“That’s why I say you nationalise, and then you reprivatise it so that Nigerians can take it over, and the profit they are taking out of Nigeria will be retained here. There will be no South African share in it,” he added.

Oshiomhole also suggested that similar measures could apply to foreign financial institutions operating in Nigeria.

Links proposal to xenophobic attacks

The senator tied his position directly to repeated attacks on Nigerians living in South Africa, insisting that stronger economic measures were necessary.

He argued that previous diplomatic engagements had failed to stop the violence.

“When a country, for the first time, kills Nigerians, they got away with it. Second time, they riot, they kill Nigerians, they got away with it. Third time, they kill Nigerians, they got away with it,” he said.

Oshiomhole also referenced agreements reached during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, claiming the commitments were not honoured.

“Under Buhari, there was an agreement. They broke it. They are killing Nigerians. Nobody is in prison for murder,” he stated.

Concerns over investors dismissed

Responding to concerns that nationalisation could discourage foreign investment, Oshiomhole maintained that human lives should outweigh economic interests.

“If anything leads to the death of Nigeria, what is the value of wealth to the dead? We don’t want investors who invest at the expense of human blood,” he said.

He further questioned whether foreign capital should be prioritised over the safety of Nigerian citizens abroad.

“Is foreign investor or foreign dollar more important than the life of a Nigerian?” he asked.

South Africa reacts to renewed violence

The remarks come amid renewed protests and attacks targeting foreign nationals in parts of Durban, Cape Town, East London and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the attacks, describing the perpetrators as opportunists exploiting social and economic frustrations.

In Nigeria, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission confirmed that the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg is engaging South African authorities over the safety of Nigerians in the country.

The latest comments by Oshiomhole have added fresh debate to ongoing conversations around xenophobia, diplomatic retaliation, and Nigeria’s relationship with foreign investors.

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