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In an apparent response to xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and other Africans in South Africa, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has threatened to close business ties with South Africans in Nigeria.
NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde on Friday announced a nationwide protest against South African interests in Nigeria, threatening to shut down MTN and MultiChoice operations.
The student leaders also called on Nigerians to close their accounts at Stanbic IBTC Bank.
He said the planned action was a response to South Africa’s treatment of Nigeria and Nigerians, adding that NANS was ready to mobilize students across the country to ensure the protest was carried out.
“We will close MTN and MultiChoice. We will force Nigerians to close their accounts at Stanbic IBTC Bank,” said the NANS President.
He emphasized that the protest was aimed at putting pressure on South African-linked companies operating in Nigeria, and called on students and members of the public to support the action.
He said the protest would be peaceful but stressed that Nigerian youths had enough numbers and influence to make their voices heard.
According to him, the association encourages Nigerians to stay away from South African-owned businesses and support indigenous companies.
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“We have telecommunications in Nigeria that are doing well. We can invest in them. We will instruct our Aluta troops spread across the country to start porting from MTN to Nigeria’s own telecommunications company.”
He also urged Nigerians who use MultiChoice services and those who bank with Stanbic IBTC to consider switching to the Nigerian-owned alternative.
“We will also issue a plenary warning to those using MultiChoice products, which support Stanbic, to start closing their accounts and start patronizing Nigerian owned banks.”
The student leader stressed that the campaign would remain peaceful, and said that violence was not the solution despite the anger over the situation in South Africa.
“We have the power. We have the capacity. Nigeria has a population of over 240 million people and I can tell you for free that 60 percent of that population are young people. We are students and we have the capacity to do it.”
“If the South African government is not ready to take responsibility, we will not resort to violence. We will not respond to violence with violence because two wrongs do not make a right, but we will do so in a peacefully coordinated manner until our voices are heard, until the welfare of Nigerians in South Africa is taken into account.”
The NANS president claimed that the association had previously issued a seven-day ultimatum to the South African government but was disappointed with what happened next.
According to him, instead of seeing efforts to protect Nigerians and their businesses, reports emerged of alleged looting of businesses after their owners fled the violence.
He also accused the South African government of nationalizing some businesses abandoned by Nigerians, a development he said was unacceptable.
The student leader further thanked lawmakers, including Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Asuquo Ekmenyong, who have spoken out on the issue and supported calls for stronger action against South African interests operating in Nigeria.
