The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has called on Nigerians to adopt a strict, non-violent economic boycott of South Africa. The proposal comes in response to a volatile wave of anti-immigrant and xenophobic hostilities currently targeting African migrants and their commercial properties.
Speaking during an exclusive interview on Arise Television, Onyema strongly condemned the recurring violence while warning citizens against destructive street retaliation that could inadvertently hurt Nigerian workers and local shareholders.
Accusations of Institutional Negligence
Onyema took aim at South African authorities, alleging a systemic failure to protect foreign nationals and cross-border traders during periods of civil unrest. He questioned how a country with capable military and police forces could repeatedly allow organized mobs to march into private properties and interrogate foreign residents unchecked.
The aviation chief rejected characterizations by anti-immigrant movement leaders who frame migrants as economic burdens. He pointed out that Nigerian expatriates bring independent startup capital into the South African ecosystem, launching retail shops that create jobs and drive localized commerce. He suggested that local critics would benefit more by learning entrepreneurial skills from these resilient merchants rather than attacking them.
The Mechanics of Non-Violent Disengagement
While aligning himself with calls for a decisive diplomatic response, Onyema drew a hard line against physical violence. He explicitly spoke against weaponizing the situation to dismantle South African-linked conglomerates operating within Nigeria:
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Protecting Domestic Alliances: Onyema noted that major firms like MTN are deeply integrated into Nigeria’s capital markets, meaning arbitrary shutdowns would destroy the investments of everyday Nigerian shareholders and workers.
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Strategic Investment Withdrawal: He argued that a coordinated halt on outbound capital and a refusal to patronize South African entities send a much sharper diplomatic signal than street riots.
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Reciprocal Investment Terms: Under his proposed framework, if South African firms wish to capture market share in Nigeria, they must inject foreign direct investment ($\text{FDI}$) under terms and repatriation guidelines strictly dictated by the Nigerian government.
