The Senate on Tuesday rejected calls for the Federal Government to take over South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria, including telecommunications giant MTN and pay television provider DStv, as retaliation for the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Instead, the upper legislative chamber condemned the renewed attacks in strong terms and urged the Federal Government to intensify diplomatic engagements with the South African authorities to ensure the protection of Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.
The matter was debated during plenary following the consideration of a motion titled “Need to Halt the Recurring Xenophobic Attacks and Intimidation Against Nigerians and Other African Nationals in the Republic of South Africa,” sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South).
The motion was prompted by a fresh wave of attacks and intimidation against Nigerians and other African migrants following the expiration of a June 30, 2026 ultimatum allegedly issued by vigilante groups directing foreign nationals to leave South Africa.
Following deliberations, the Senate urged 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 guaranteeing the safety and protection of Nigerians in the country.
The lawmakers also demanded the immediate arrest and prosecution of all individuals responsible for killings, intimidation, looting, destruction of businesses, and unlawful immigration enforcement carried out by vigilante groups.
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 services and establish a verified register of Nigerians who have suffered death, injuries, displacement, unlawful detention, or destruction of businesses and property. The register, it noted, would facilitate legal redress, compensation, restitution, and other forms of support for affected victims.
Lawmakers also called on the Federal Government to work with other African countries through the African Union to establish an effective continental early warning, monitoring, and accountability mechanism to address xenophobic attacks and related violence across Africa.
Additionally, the Senate directed its Committees on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations to review the implementation of the Senate’s earlier resolutions adopted on May 5, 2026, as well as previous Nigeria–South Africa diplomatic engagements. The committees are expected to report back with measures taken, assurances obtained, and outstanding issues requiring legislative intervention.
During the debate, Senator Wasiu Eshilokun (APC, Lagos Central) proposed that the Federal Government should nationalise South African-owned businesses operating in Nigeria in response to the attacks on Nigerians.
Supporting a stronger retaliatory measure, Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) proposed an amendment urging the Federal Government to appropriate the profits of South African companies operating in Nigeria if the South African government refuses to compensate Nigerians whose businesses were destroyed and whose relatives were killed during the attacks.
Oshiomhole expressed concern over reports attributed to a South African minister suggesting that compensation would not be paid to some victims.
He argued that it would be unfair for Nigerian taxpayers to shoulder the burden of compensating victims while South African companies continued to operate profitably in Nigeria.
“The ultimatum reportedly given to Nigerians to leave by June 30 was enforced by mobs while the South African government appeared unable to protect innocent people. 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,” he said.
However, Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who presided over the session, cautioned against taking retaliatory measures before the completion of the Senate’s ongoing investigation into the matter.
Barau acknowledged the seriousness of the attacks but advised lawmakers to avoid relying solely on information circulating on social media.
He explained that the South African minister whose comments were referenced had clarified that compensation would not be available only to persons occupying land illegally without legal ownership, while lawful property owners would retain their rights.
The Deputy Senate President nevertheless stressed that the clarification did not excuse the South African government’s failure to protect innocent residents from attacks and displacement.
He directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to submit its report within two weeks to enable the Senate take informed and decisive action.
Responding, Oshiomhole reminded the chamber that the Senate had already debated the issue about a month earlier and had directed the committee to investigate the matter.
He urged the Senate not to continue delaying action while Nigerians remained vulnerable to attacks.
In his ruling, Barau reiterated that the committee must submit its findings within two weeks, assuring senators that the Senate would take appropriate decisions based on the report.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, had continued engaging South African authorities while providing support to affected Nigerians.
Earlier, while presenting the motion, Senator Ekpenyong lamented the renewed xenophobic attacks, describing them as targeted hostility against Nigerians and other African nationals, including individuals possessing valid residence and work permits.
He noted that the intimidation had gone beyond undocumented migrants, with many legally resident foreigners reportedly profiled, threatened, evicted, and forced to leave by unauthorised vigilante groups.
Ekpenyong reminded the Senate of Nigeria’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, recalling the country’s diplomatic, financial, and material contributions to the liberation movement, as well as the 1977 World Conference for Action Against Apartheid hosted in Lagos under the administration of former Head of State, General Olusegun Obasanjo.
He further observed that despite repeated attacks on Nigerian-owned businesses in South Africa, South African companies such as MTN and DStv have continued to operate freely and profitably in Nigeria, with the Nigerian government consistently maintaining the rule of law by rejecting retaliatory attacks against South African businesses.
The Senate ultimately resolved to strengthen diplomatic engagement and legal measures to safeguard Nigerians abroad while declining calls for the nationalisation of South African-owned companies operating in Nigeria.
