By Kingston Magare 5.5.2026
Adams Oshiomhole the Senator representing Edo North has advocated for the cancelling of the operating licenses of telecoms giants MTN and DSTV as South Africans step up attacks against Nigerians and other Africans, they want out of their country.
Oshiomhole made the call Tuesday during a Senate discussion of the xenophobic attacks by South Africans on foreign nationals living in their country. The Nigerian government has said it is ready to evacuate Nigerians who are willing to leave South Africa.
“This Senate should adopt a position that MTN, a South African company that is cutting away millions of dollars from Nigeria every day. That Nigeria nationalise it and withdraw its license,” Oshiomhole said.
“I call on the Federal Government to revoke DSTV, which is also a South African company that is cutting away millions of dollars.”
He argued that most Nigerians living in South Africa were economically productive and not dependent on the host country.
“These Nigerians who are in South Africa, they are not there on holiday. They are there to work and to earn.
“When we hit back, the president of South Africa will go on his knees to recognise that Nigerians cannot be intimidated,” he said.
Meanwhile the Senate resolved to constitute a joint ad hoc committee of the Senate and the House of Representatives to address the rising cases of xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
The committee, to be led by the Chairman of the National Assembly, will undertake a fact-finding and diplomatic visit to South Africa aimed at finding lasting solutions to the crisis.