The Federal Government has asked Nigerians to stop attacking South African businesses , saying investors and workers in the companies are Nigerians .
The Special Adviser to the Minister of Information and Culture , Segun Adeyemi, in a statement on Tuesday , said the Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed , described as disturbing reports that angry Nigerians had started attacking South African companies in Nigeria .
He said targeting South African companies in Nigeria for attack was akin to cutting off ones nose to spite the face because the investors in such companies , especially MTN and Shoprite , are Nigerians .
Mohammed said the majority of the workers in the South African companies operating in Nigeria were also Nigerians , meaning that Nigerian workers would be the hardest hit if the companies were forced to shut down .
He assured Nigerians that the Federal Government was already taking measures to put an end to persistent xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
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‘ President Muhammadu Buhari has dispatched a Special Envoy to convey to his South African counterpart , President Cyril Ramaphosa, his concerns and also interact with his South African counterpart on the situation .
” Also, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama , acting on the instruction of Mr . President , has summoned the South African High Commissioner to Nigeria to get a brief on the situation ; express Nigeria ’s displeasure over the treatment of her citizens; and secure assurance of the safety of their lives and property , ” the minister said.
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