The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has called on Nigerians to stop investing in South Africa as a peaceful response to recurring xenophobic attacks against African migrants, particularly Nigerians living in the country.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Tuesday, Onyema said Nigeria should adopt what he described as a non-violent economic retaliation rather than encouraging attacks on South Africans or businesses operating in Nigeria.
His comments come amid renewed anti-foreigner protests in parts of South Africa, where some groups have demanded that undocumented migrants leave the country by June 30. The development has sparked concerns among several African countries, including Nigeria, whose citizens are among the largest migrant communities in South Africa.
Over the years, xenophobic violence in South Africa has repeatedly strained relations between the two countries, leading to diplomatic protests, evacuations and calls for stronger action by African leaders.
Reacting to the latest tensions, Onyema argued that Nigerians should use their economic power rather than violence to register their displeasure.
“The kind of retaliation I want is for Nigerians to boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country. If they want to invest in our country, let them bring their money and invest, and you determine how they take the money back. That is non-violence action,” he said.
According to the Air Peace chairman, economic measures would be more effective and responsible than physical attacks or destruction of property.
He maintained that ordinary South Africans should not be subjected to violence in retaliation for the actions of some groups involved in anti-foreigner campaigns.
Onyema expressed frustration over what he described as the inability or unwillingness of South African authorities to prevent repeated attacks on foreign nationals.
He questioned how security agencies in one of Africa’s most developed countries could repeatedly fail to stop attacks that often occur in public places.
“I totally agree that there should be a stop to foolishness. Every time they do this, and they get the support of their government. I don’t understand how all of a sudden South Africa lacked police force, lacked the military, lacked every security agency that could have stopped these people,” he said.
The businessman also condemned incidents in which migrants were allegedly targeted, harassed and forced to prove their legal status by groups of protesters.
“How do you explain where people will march into somebody’s house, bring you out, questioning you, ‘Can I see your papers? You are a foreigner. You have to go back home,’” he asked.
According to Onyema, many Nigerians living in South Africa are entrepreneurs and business owners who contribute positively to the country’s economy.
He noted that many migrants establish businesses, create employment opportunities and pay taxes, thereby supporting economic growth in their host communities.
“He brought money from Nigeria and opened a shop in your country to help your country and help you. The best you could have done is to learn from these Nigerians on how to acquire some entrepreneurial skills,” he said.
The issue of xenophobia in South Africa has been a major concern for more than a decade.
Several outbreaks of violence have targeted migrants from countries such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Ethiopia and Somalia.
Many victims have reported attacks on their homes, businesses and personal property.
The violence has often been linked to concerns over unemployment, crime and competition for economic opportunities, although critics argue that migrants are frequently blamed for problems they did not create.
In Nigeria, each wave of xenophobic attacks has triggered widespread anger and calls for government action.
One of the most notable responses came in 2019 when Air Peace, under Onyema’s leadership, provided free evacuation flights to help stranded Nigerians return home from South Africa after a major outbreak of violence.
The move earned widespread praise and strengthened Onyema’s reputation as a businessman willing to intervene during national emergencies.
Speaking during the interview, Onyema said he supported calls for stronger action by Nigerian authorities but insisted that any response must remain peaceful and lawful.
He referenced comments by former labour leader and Senator representing Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, who recently advocated retaliation against South Africa over the treatment of Nigerians.
While agreeing that action was necessary, Onyema rejected violent measures.
“I support Adams Oshiomhole, who says that we should retaliate. But the kind of retaliation I want is what we are doing. Let us do non-violence retaliation. I don’t want Nigerians to go to the street and attack any South Africans,” he said.
The Air Peace chairman also opposed suggestions that Nigeria should shut down South African-owned companies operating within the country.
According to him, many Nigerians are shareholders, employees and beneficiaries of such businesses.
Closing them down, he argued, could end up hurting Nigerians more than South Africans.
“I don’t want Nigeria to close down MTN or other people’s businesses. Some Nigerians have shares in those companies. After all, those people are employing Nigerians too,” he said.
Over the years, South African companies have established significant investments in Nigeria, particularly in telecommunications, retail, financial services and entertainment.
At the same time, thousands of Nigerians live, work and run businesses in South Africa.
The strong economic ties between the two countries have often complicated responses to xenophobic incidents, with both governments seeking to balance diplomatic relations and economic interests.
Onyema’s remarks reflect growing frustration among many Nigerians who believe stronger action is needed to protect citizens living abroad.
His call for an economic boycott adds a new dimension to the debate by proposing a peaceful form of pressure rather than confrontational measures.
As discussions continue, attention is expected to remain focused on how both Nigeria and South Africa respond to the latest tensions and whether renewed diplomatic efforts can prevent another cycle of violence against foreign nationals.
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