Nigeria may review South African businesses if xenophobic attacks persist – Foreign Affairs Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu signaled on Thursday that Nigeria could review operations of South African-owned businesses if xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa continue. The minister stressed that diplomatic engagement remains the priority, but warned of alternative measures if the situation doesn't improve. Over 120 South African companies currently operate in Nigeria across sectors without discrimination, including MTN Group, MultiChoice, Stanbic IBTC Holdings, and Protea Hotels. Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted that South African authorities abandoned a Memorandum of Understanding signed in October 2025 on an early warning mechanism to protect citizens during tensions. Reports indicate Nigerians married to South Africans are being pressured to leave, raising serious concerns for families established there. The Federal Government maintains commitment to constitutional and legislative processes for any potential action. This follows calls from Senate and Labour Congress for stronger measures, including licence revocation for South African companies. Consumer impact would be significant—MTN serves over 60 million Nigerians while MultiChoice has 5 million subscribers. Any retaliatory actions could disrupt telecommunications, banking, and entertainment services nationwide. The diplomatic relationship between Africa's largest economies hangs in the balance as Nigeria continues evacuating willing citizens.