The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has called on Nigerians to stop investing in South Africa and boycott the country in response to renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian nationals.
Speaking on the recurring violence against Nigerians living in South Africa, Onyema condemned the attacks and said the situation had reached a point where economic action was necessary. He urged citizens, business leaders, and the government to take a stand by cutting economic ties until South African authorities guarantee the safety of Nigerians.
“We cannot continue to watch our people being killed, harassed, and having their businesses destroyed while we keep investing billions in a country that does not protect us,” Onyema said. “If our lives and property are not safe, then our money should not be safe there either.”
Onyema, whose airline gained national praise in 2019 for evacuating Nigerians free of charge during a wave of xenophobic violence in South Africa, insisted that economic pressure remains one of the strongest tools Nigerians have. He called on entrepreneurs to halt expansion plans into South Africa and asked consumers to boycott South African brands operating in Nigeria.
The Air Peace boss also appealed to the Federal Government to engage South African authorities more firmly and to prioritize the protection of Nigerians in the diaspora. He stressed that while diplomacy is important, it must be backed by concrete action that shows Nigeria will not tolerate the continued killing of its citizens abroad.
Xenophobic attacks in South Africa have flared up repeatedly over the years, with Nigerian-owned shops and businesses often looted or burnt. Several Nigerians have lost their lives, sparking outrage and diplomatic tensions between the two countries.
Posted By HUBGIST.
