The Nigerian Senate has officially rejected calls to nationalise major South African-owned businesses, including telecom giant MTN and pay-TV provider DStv.
The Senate rejected demands to nationalize South African companies like MTN and DStv in retaliation for xenophobic attacks on Nigerians. While lawmakers strongly condemned the violence, they chose to urge the federal government to use stronger diplomatic measures to protect Nigerian citizens in South Africa instead of taking over businesses.
This discussion marks the second time in just two months that the Nigerian Senate has had to address the issue of xenophobic attacks against its citizens in South Africa.
The Senate urged the federal government to secure written guarantees from South Africa to protect Nigerians now that the June 30, 2026 deadline has passed. Lawmakers are also demanding the arrest and prosecution of everyone responsible for the violence, looting, intimidation and unlawful immigration enforcement targeting Nigerian citizens.
The Senate’s decisions on Tuesday came as a direct result of a motion titled “Motion on the Need to Halt the Recurring Xenophobic Attacks and Intimidation Against Nigerians and Other African Nationals in the Republic of South Africa.”
The motion was sponsored by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, an APC lawmaker representing the Cross River South senatorial district.
The motion follows a fresh wave of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa. These attacks broke out after the expiration of a June 30th deadline set by local vigilante groups ordering foreign nationals to leave the country.
The Senate has urged the federal government to ensure that those behind these deadly attacks face the full wrath of the law, while also demanding written assurances from South Africa guaranteeing the safety of Nigerian citizens.
The Senate called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, NiDCOM, and the Nigerian High Commission to upgrade emergency consular services and create a verified register of all Nigerians who have suffered death, injury, displacement, illegal detention, or property loss. This official registry will be used to help victims secure legal redress, restitution and financial compensation from the South African government.
The Senate further urged the federal government to partner with other affected African nations and the African Union to create a continental watchdog system. This collaborative effort aims to establish effective early warning, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms to track and prevent xenophobic attacks and related violence across Africa.
The Senate has directed its committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora, and Non-Governmental Organisations to review how well its May 5, 2026 resolutions and previous Nigeria–South Africa agreements have been implemented. The committees have four weeks to report back on the measures taken, the assurances obtained, and any outstanding actions that still need to be handled.
While Senator Eshilokun Wasiu (APC, Lagos Central) raised the call to nationalize South African businesses in Nigeria, Senators Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North) and Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central) successfully argued against severing diplomatic or economic ties with South Africa.
Senator Oshiomhole moved an amendment to the motion, expressing deep concern over statements from a South African minister who suggested that no compensation would be paid to Nigerians. He highlighted that these victims had lost their lives, had their shops and businesses destroyed, and had their properties looted during the recent wave of xenophobic violence.
Senator Oshiomhole proposed that if the South African government refuses to compensate the victims, Nigeria should consider using the profits of South African companies operating locally including banks and other businesses to fund compensation for the affected Nigerians.
Senator Oshiomhole argued that while mobs enforced the June 30 deadline, the South African government failed to protect innocent people. He stressed that Nigeria should not use its own taxpayers’ money to compensate victims while South African businesses continue to profit freely within Nigeria.
Senator Oshiomhole concluded by urging that the profits generated by South African companies in Nigeria be seized and repurposed to compensate Nigerians who lost their businesses and loved ones in the attacks.
Intervening to stop the amendment, the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau Jibrin (APC, Kano North), who was presiding over the plenary, stated:
“Before we proceed, let me make one point. Nobody in this chamber is happy with what is happening in South Africa. The actions of violent groups attacking innocent people are completely unacceptable. Killing people in the name of protests cannot and should not be tolerated.”
Senator Jibrin urged caution, noting that the Senate should not rely solely on unverified social media reports. He clarified that in the interview being referred to, the South African minister explained that while individuals in illegal settlements without legal titles would not receive compensation, anyone with valid property titles would retain their ownership rights, regardless of whether they had been displaced.
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Senator Jibrin further noted that the explanation does not excuse the failure to protect innocent people from displacement. He suggested that if South Africa is facing internal security challenges or attempts to destabilize the country, it should speak openly to the international community, adding that as fellow Africans, Nigeria remains open to cooperation to achieve stability.
Senator Jibrin concluded by appealing to the lawmakers to let the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs finish its investigation and submit its findings before making further decisions. However, Senator Oshiomhole interjected, arguing that with all due respect, the matter had already been extensively debated about a month ago.
He noted that the Senate had previously resolved to have the Committee on Foreign Affairs investigate the situation, and had even suggested sending a delegation to South Africa. He argued that their previous decisions should not be stalled by waiting for further opinions, warning that Nigeria cannot afford to keep exercising caution while more of its citizens are being killed.
At this point, Senator Barau Jibrin said,
“Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, you are hereby given two weeks to submit your report so that this Senate can take decisive action on the matter.
“Very well. The Committee on Foreign Affairs is directed to table its report within two weeks on the attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa. We need comprehensive information so that this Senate can determine the appropriate course of action.
“I thank Senator Oshiomhole for his understanding, and I commend all distinguished senators who contributed to this debate.”
