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| Edo North Senator, Adams Oshiomhole |
Former Edo State Governor and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged the Federal Government to seize the profits of South African companies operating in Nigeria and use the funds to compensate Nigerians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa.
Naija Brain reports that Oshiomhole made the call on Tuesday during plenary at the Senate, arguing that the move would be an appropriate response to the South African government's refusal to compensate Nigerians whose businesses, properties and livelihoods were destroyed during the attacks.
The former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress said the Nigerian government should confiscate profits generated by South African firms, including banks, operating in the country rather than rely on public funds to assist victims.
According to him, “Following comments by the South African minister to the effect that compensation will not be paid to those Nigerians whose properties were looted, shops burned and even lives taken, the government of Nigeria should reciprocate by appropriating the profits from South African shares in all South African companies in Nigeria, including their banks IBTC. That money should be seized and used to pay Nigerians.”
Oshiomhole maintained that the attacks against Nigerians were not merely the actions of a mob but had effectively received the backing of the South African government through its stance on compensation. He argued that Nigerian taxpayers should not bear the financial burden of compensating citizens forced to return home.
His remarks come after South Africa rejected Nigeria's request for compensation for citizens who lost businesses and properties during the latest wave of xenophobic violence.
The evacuations followed renewed attacks targeting African migrants in South Africa.
Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, had earlier disclosed that the Federal Government was compiling records of businesses and properties abandoned by evacuated Nigerians to support discussions with South African authorities on possible compensation.
However, speaking at a press conference on Friday, South Africa's Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, ruled out any government compensation, stating that legally registered properties were recognised by the authorities, while informal settlements were illegal and therefore not eligible for compensation.