Xenophobic Attacks: Nigeria Can Send South Africans Away – Senator Umeh

The Senator representing Anambra Central, Victor Umeh, has said Nigeria will not collapse if South Africans and their businesses are asked to leave the country.

Naija News reports that Umeh said this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, while reacting to renewed concerns over xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The senator said there was no business being operated by South Africans in Nigeria that Nigerians could not run themselves if the country chose to prioritise local capacity.

Umeh said Nigeria had the capacity to survive without South African businesses operating in the country.

“We can send them away from here, even their business, who cares? It’s not like Nigeria will collapse if they go, we will never collapse,” he said.

His comments followed reports of attacks on Nigerians in South Africa, where some citizens were allegedly killed and businesses looted.

The lawmaker condemned attacks on foreigners, saying xenophobia would only damage South Africa’s image and economy.

“Attacking and sending foreigners out of your country is not the way to build a nation. By the time people avoid going to South Africa, they will see the hurt they have done to themselves,” Umeh said.

He insisted that Nigeria had the human and technical capacity to replace services currently provided by South African-linked businesses.

“There’s nothing they’re doing in Nigeria that we cannot do for ourselves. If it is satellites that they have, we have to spend money,” he added.

Umeh recalled that as far back as 2006, efforts were made by Nigerian investors to support digital satellite transmission locally.

“I remember in 2006, Daar Communications wanted to start digital satellite transmission, the type of thing they are doing in South Africa. Some of us were moved to patriotically invest in that public offer they did,” he said.

The senator argued that with deliberate investment and policy focus, Nigeria could create similar opportunities and strengthen its own digital and business sectors.

“So if Nigeria takes it as a priority, it will be able to create all those opportunities. Nigeria has also advanced in digital technology. We can bring these things about,” Umeh said.