Air Peace CEO urges Nigerians to boycott South African investments over xenophobia
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
Allen Onyema, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, has called on Nigerians to implement a non-violent economic boycott of South Africa. This appeal comes in response to ongoing xenophobic attacks targeting African migrants, including Nigerians, in South Africa. Onyema, speaking on Arise Television, advocated for Nigerians to cease investing in South Africa and instead encourage their businesses to invest within Nigeria under terms set by the Nigerian government. He criticized South African authorities for their perceived failure to protect foreign nationals during periods of unrest, questioning the absence of adequate security forces to prevent attacks. Onyema highlighted the positive contributions of many Nigerian migrants to the South African economy through business establishment and job creation. While supporting calls for stronger diplomatic action, he explicitly rejected violent retaliation against South Africans or South African-owned businesses in Nigeria, citing that many Nigerians hold shares in these companies and benefit from the employment they provide. His remarks follow renewed anti-foreigner protests in South Africa, which have led to demands for undocumented migrants to leave the country by June 30.
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