The Senate on Tuesday threatened far-reaching diplomatic and economic consequences against South Africa over the renewed wave of xenophobic attacks, killings and destruction of properties belonging to Nigerians, with lawmakers weighing options including severing diplomatic relations and taking over South African companies operating in Nigeria.
Angered by the continued harassment, intimidation and violent attacks against Nigerians despite previous interventions, several senators argued that Nigeria could no longer continue to tolerate what they described as persistent acts of hostility against its citizens while South African businesses continued to thrive in the country.
Some lawmakers proposed the nationalisation of South African firms, including telecommunications giant MTN and pay television company MultiChoice, with profits from the companies to be used to compensate Nigerians affected by the attacks, particularly after South African officials reportedly ruled out compensation for victims.
Although the Senate unanimously condemned the attacks and adopted all the substantive prayers contained in the motion, the proposals seeking the nationalisation of South African companies and the severance of diplomatic ties were stepped down following an appeal by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin, who presided over plenary, pending the outcome of an investigation by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs.
The debate followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, under Orders 41 and 51, condemning the escalating xenophobic attacks, harassment, forced displacement and destruction of businesses belonging to Nigerians and other African nationals by rogue protesters and vigilante groups in South Africa.
Leading the debate, Ekpenyong lamented that anti-migrant groups had issued an unlawful ultimatum directing undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa by June 30, 2026, triggering widespread fear, demonstrations, displacement and attacks on foreign-owned businesses.
He noted that the intimidation had extended beyond undocumented migrants, stressing that Nigerians with valid residence and work permits had equally been profiled, threatened, evicted and harassed by unauthorised vigilante groups.
According to him, the indiscriminate attacks clearly demonstrated that the violence had gone beyond immigration enforcement and had become outright xenophobic hostility based on nationality.
The lawmaker reminded the Senate that Nigeria played a pivotal role in the liberation of South Africa from apartheid, providing diplomatic, financial and material support while championing the release of Nelson Mandela and other freedom fighters.
He also recalled Nigeria’s economic sanctions against apartheid interests, including the nationalisation of British Petroleum’s Nigerian assets and sustained pressure against Barclays Bank during the anti-apartheid struggle.
Ekpenyong expressed concern that while Nigerian-owned businesses in South Africa had been looted, shut down or abandoned under threats, South African companies continued to operate profitably in Nigeria.
He urged the Senate to condemn the attacks in the strongest terms and called on the Federal Government to obtain firm assurances from Pretoria on the protection of Nigerians, demand the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators, strengthen emergency consular support, compile a verified register of victims for restitution and compensation, engage the African Union on preventive mechanisms and mandate relevant Senate committees to review Nigeria’s previous engagements with South Africa.
Supporting the motion, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Tahir Monguno, described all the prayers as “relevant, apt and germane,” insisting that Nigeria’s foreign policy must become citizen-centred.
“Our diplomatic engagements across the world should be citizen-centred and citizen-driven in order to jealously guard and protect the lives and properties of Nigerians wherever they may be on the surface of the earth,” he said.
Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central declared that repeated condemnations were no longer sufficient while Nigerians continued to lose their lives.
“Nigerians are being killed left, right and centre. There has never been any action except to condemn this thing by mouth,” he said, adding, “Enough is enough. Silence is no longer golden.”
He urged the Federal Government to sever diplomatic relations with South Africa should the attacks continue.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu commended President Bola Tinubu for facilitating the evacuation of stranded Nigerians but insisted that South Africa must take responsibility for damaged Nigerian assets.
Recalling Nigeria’s sacrifices during the anti-apartheid struggle, he said, “Nigeria spent in excess of 15 billion dollars on South Africa and they are treating Nigerians like this.”
While expressing outrage, Kalu nevertheless urged diplomacy, saying, “We are not going to go forcefully; we are going to go with dialogue. We are going to use international laws and the international community to deal with them.”
Senator Wasiu Eshilokun argued that South Africans appeared to have forgotten Nigeria’s immense contributions to their liberation and proposed that if South Africa failed to protect Nigerians, Nigeria should consider taking over South African businesses operating in the country.
“We can nationalise them and use the proceeds to pay those who were attacked or suffered losses from their country,” he said, specifically mentioning MTN and MultiChoice.
Senator Babangida Hussaini called for stronger funding and restructuring of Nigeria’s diplomatic missions abroad to enable them to respond more effectively to attacks against Nigerians in foreign countries.
Similarly, Senator Saliu Mustapha supported calls for Nigeria to begin the process of severing diplomatic relations with South Africa.
Offering a different perspective, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi cautioned against hasty decisions, warning that the current developments could be part of a wider conspiracy to destabilise the South African government.
“We should tread with very careful consideration about this conspiracy that is taking place in South Africa,” he said.
Responding to the debate, Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin described the attacks as barbaric but urged restraint pending a comprehensive investigation.
“Gangs going around in the name of protesters, persecuting, intimidating people and killing people is unacceptable,” he said.
He added, “We lead in Africa. We set the pace. Whatever we need to do, we need to be very careful.”
During consideration of additional prayers, Senator Eshilokun formally proposed the nationalisation of South African companies operating in Nigeria, including MTN and MultiChoice, with their proceeds to be used in compensating affected Nigerians.
Following Barau’s appeal, he agreed to step down the proposal pending the committee’s report.
Senator Ningi also stepped down his proposal urging President Bola Tinubu to sever diplomatic relations with South Africa if the killings continued, while insisting that the proposal should remain on the Senate’s official record.
Former Edo State Governor, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, renewed calls for economic retaliation after reports that a South African minister ruled out compensation for Nigerians whose businesses and properties had been destroyed.
He proposed that profits earned by South African companies operating in Nigeria, including banks and telecommunications firms, should be appropriated to compensate affected Nigerians.
“We can’t allow our people to suffer while South African investment and profit continue to leave Nigeria,” Oshiomhole declared.
Noting that a similar directive had earlier been issued without visible outcomes, he urged the Senate to move beyond resolutions.
The Senate further directed the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to investigate the matter, including allegations of a broader conspiracy behind the attacks, and submit its report within two legislative weeks.
Barau assured lawmakers that the Senate would consider stronger diplomatic and economic measures after receiving the committee’s recommendations.
The Senate unanimously adopted the following resolutions:
Condemned in the strongest terms the recurring xenophobic attacks, intimidation, unlawful profiling and vigilante activities against Nigerians and other African nationals in South Africa.
Urged the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa, to obtain written assurances from the South African government on the protection of Nigerians and demand the arrest and prosecution of those responsible for the violence, intimidation, looting and unlawful immigration enforcement.
Directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa to strengthen emergency consular arrangements and establish a verified register of Nigerians who suffered death, injury, displacement, unlawful detention and loss of businesses and property for legal redress, restitution and compensation.
Urged the Federal Government to engage affected African countries and the African Union in establishing an early warning and accountability mechanism to prevent xenophobic violence and protect African migrants.
Mandated the Senate Committees on Foreign Affairs, Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations to review the implementation of the Senate’s May 5, 2026 resolution and previous Nigeria-South Africa bilateral commitments, and report back within two legislative weeks with recommendations for further legislative action.
