Oshiomhole says Nigerian lives must not be sacrificed for foreign investorsamid xenophobic attacks

The senator for Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, defended his earlier call for the nationalisation of MTN and other South African‑owned firms operating in Nigeria. He argued that the nation must place the welfare of its citizens above foreign investment.

Oshiomhole made the remarks on Tuesday during an interview with Arise News, responding to the resurgence of xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Last week, speaking on the Senate floor, he urged a firm response to protect Nigerian citizens and emphasised the principle of reciprocity in international relations.

He said, “I am aware that MTN is quoted, and therefore Nigerian shareholders can hold on, but we take away the South African rights.”

Oshiomhole also suggested that the federal government could nationalise the affected companies, including financial institutions, and later re‑privatise them under Nigerian ownership.

“And because of the issue… you nationalise, and then you re‑privatise it so that Nigerians can take it over, and the profit they are taking out of Nigeria will be retained here. There will be no South African share in it,” he added.

The senator claimed that South African authorities only acted after diplomatic pressure from Nigeria, though he offered no evidence for this assertion.

“Thereafter, President Ramaphosa came out clearly to condemn the attack on Black people. He didn’t do that until I attacked his interests,” he said.

He stressed that human life must take precedence over economic considerations, arguing that investment should not be pursued at the expense of Nigerian lives.

“If anything leads to the death of Nigeria, what is the value of wealth to the dead? We don’t want investors who invest at the expense of human blood. Even in my poverty, I value my life,” he said.

“Life is more important; we don’t want investors who invest at the expense of human blood. If you need Nigerian blood to service and you don’t care about Nigerian human blood because you want to attract investors, even in my poverty, I value my life.”

The former governor linked his stance to what he described as repeated attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, alleging that previous incidents had not resulted in justice.

“When a country, for the first time, killed Nigerians, they got away with it. The second time, they killed Nigerians; they got away with it. Third time, they killed Nigerians; they got away with it,” he said.

He continued, “Under Buhari, there was an agreement. They broke it. They are killing Nigerians. Nobody is in prison for murder, or extrajudicial murder.

“You are talking about law. Is there no law protecting the life of foreigners who live in your country? Even if they were there illegally, there are legal ways to repatriate them, to deport them.”

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