Oshiomhole Urges FG To Use South African Firms’ Profits To Compensate Xenophobia Victims
The former Edo State governor says Nigeria should use profits earned by South African companies operating in the country to compensate citizens who lost businesses and property during xenophobic attacks.
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has urged the Federal Government to appropriate profits made by South African companies operating in Nigeria to compensate Nigerians whose businesses and properties were destroyed during xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
The former Edo State governor made the call during Tuesday’s plenary while reacting to comments by South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, who ruled out compensation for affected Nigerians.
Ntshavheni had maintained that only legally registered properties qualified for government compensation, arguing that informal settlements did not meet the requirements. She also referenced alleged drug-related activities involving some Nigerians while defending her government’s position.
Reacting, Oshiomhole described the stance as unacceptable, insisting that Nigerians who suffered losses deserved compensation regardless of the registration status of their businesses.
“Following comments by the South African minister to the effect that compensation will not be paid to those Nigerians whose properties were looted, shops bombed and lives even lost, the government of Nigeria should reciprocate by appropriating the profit accrued from South African companies, including their banks and IBTC, and use the money to pay Nigerians,” he said.
The senator argued that Nigeria should not bear the financial burden of compensating victims while South African companies continue to operate profitably in the country.
“We cannot allow a situation where our people take taxpayers’ money to pay compensation while South African investment and profit is being taken away untouched,” he added.
Oshiomhole further urged the Federal Government to ensure that affected Nigerians receive compensation for the losses they suffered during the attacks.
South African companies, including telecommunications giant MTN and several financial institutions, maintain significant investments in Nigeria, making the country one of their largest markets on the continent.
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