July 07, (THEWILL) — The Senate, on Tuesday, rejected a proposal to nationalise MTN, DStv and other South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria as retaliation for the renewed xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The decision followed a heated debate on a motion sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South), who drew the attention of the upper chamber to the latest wave of attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals after the June 30, 2026, ultimatum issued by anti-migrant vigilante groups expired.
While lawmakers unanimously condemned the violence and intimidation, the chamber declined proposals for economic retaliation, insisting that Nigeria must continue to uphold the rule of law even as it pursues accountability for the attacks.
The motion marked the second time in two months that the Senate had deliberated on the deteriorating security situation confronting Nigerians in South Africa.
Leading the debate, Ekpenyong said reports indicated that the attacks had extended beyond undocumented migrants to Nigerians and other foreign nationals with valid residence and work permits, many of whom had allegedly been profiled, threatened, displaced and forced to abandon their homes and businesses.
He argued that the indiscriminate targeting of lawful residents demonstrated that the campaign was no longer about immigration enforcement but had become outright xenophobic persecution based on nationality.
The senator reminded his colleagues of Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa’s anti-apartheid struggle, recalling that the country provided diplomatic, financial and material assistance to the liberation movement, campaigned for the release of Nelson Mandela and hosted the 1977 World Conference for Action Against Apartheid in Lagos.
He also noted that while Nigerian-owned businesses in South Africa had reportedly been looted, vandalised or abandoned because of the violence, South African companies, including MTN and DStv, continued to operate freely and profitably in Nigeria.
During the debate, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) proposed that if the South African government failed to compensate Nigerians who lost lives, businesses and properties during the attacks, the Federal Government should appropriate the profits of South African companies operating in Nigeria to compensate the victims.
“We cannot allow Nigerians to suffer such losses and then use Nigerian taxpayers’ money to compensate them while South African businesses continue to make profits here”, Oshiomhole said.
He maintained that such a measure would ensure that innocent Nigerians did not bear the financial burden of the attacks.
However, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the session, ruled against the proposal, saying the Senate should avoid taking retaliatory decisions before receiving the report of its Committee on Foreign Affairs.
Barau said that although the chamber shared the anger over the attacks, caution was necessary to avoid acting on unverified claims.
He explained that the South African minister, whose comments had sparked outrage, reportedly clarified that compensation would not be paid to occupants of illegal settlements without legal title, while those with valid property rights would retain ownership.
“That explanation, however, does not excuse the failure to prevent innocent people from being displaced in the first place”, Barau said.
He directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to submit its report within two weeks to enable the chamber to determine the next line of action.
Not satisfied with the delay, Oshiomhole reminded the Senate that the issue had already been debated in May and warned that prolonged caution could embolden perpetrators.
“We should not continue to exercise caution until more Nigerians are killed”, he said.
Following the debate, the Senate resolved to urge the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, to obtain written assurances from the South African government on the safety of Nigerians following the expiration of the June 30 ultimatum.
The lawmakers also called for the arrest and prosecution of all those responsible for killings, intimidation, looting and unlawful vigilante activities targeting Nigerians and other African nationals.
The Senate further directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to strengthen emergency consular support and compile a verified register of Nigerians who suffered death, injuries, displacement, unlawful detention or loss of businesses and property to facilitate legal redress, restitution and compensation.
It also urged the Federal Government to work with other affected African countries through the African Union to establish a continental early warning, monitoring and accountability mechanism against xenophobic violence.
In addition, the Senate mandated its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations to review the implementation of its May 5, 2026, resolutions on xenophobic attacks and previous Nigeria-South Africa engagements, and report back within four weeks on actions taken, assurances obtained and outstanding measures required.
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