The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema, has called on Nigerians to stop investing in South Africa and boycott the country in response to renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals, including Nigerians.
Onyema made the call during an interview on ARISE News on Monday, where he advocated a non-violent economic response against South Africa while rejecting any form of retaliation that could lead to attacks on individuals or businesses operating in Nigeria.
His comments followed renewed xenophobic incidents in South Africa, which have raised concerns over the safety of Nigerians and other African nationals living and working in the country.
The development prompted the Nigerian government to begin arrangements to evacuate some citizens from South Africa as concerns over their security increased.
While supporting calls for consequences over the attacks, Onyema said Nigerians should not respond through violence or target South African citizens and businesses in Nigeria.
“I don’t want Nigerians to go to the street and attack any South Africans. Nigerians are not like that. We love foreigners. Nigerians are not like that. That’s not the kind of retaliation I want,” he said.
The Air Peace boss also rejected calls for Nigeria to shut down South African-owned companies, including telecommunications giant MTN, arguing that such actions could also affect Nigerians who have investments or interests connected to those businesses.
“I don’t want Nigeria to close down MTN or other companies. Don’t Nigeria’s have shares in those companies? After all, those people are Nigerians too. I don’t want that,” he said.
Instead, Onyema urged Nigerians to adopt what he described as a peaceful economic response by withdrawing investments and business interests from South Africa.
“The kind of retaliation I want is for Nigerians to boycott South Africa. Do you know what it means? Boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country,” he said.
He argued that reducing financial support and investments in South Africa would send a stronger message than confrontation.
“If they want to invest in our country, let them bring their money and invest. And determine how they take the money back. That is non-violent action.
“Boycott South Africa. If you decide to go against me, the only thing I can do to you is withdraw my support to you. I don’t have to support you to use it to finish me.
“So, that’s the kind of retaliation I want. That is most powerful,” he added.
The proposed boycott comes amid strong economic ties between Nigeria and South Africa, two of Africa’s largest economies, with significant trade and investment relations between both countries.
South Africa remains one of Nigeria’s major African trading partners, supplying manufactured goods, industrial materials and consumer products to the Nigerian market.
Recent trade data showed that South Africa was Nigeria’s largest source of imports within Africa in the first quarter of 2026, with goods valued at N155.26 billion entering the country during the period.
The imports included vehicles used for transportation of goods valued at N33.58 billion, polypropylene worth N16.72 billion, apples valued at N10.38 billion, industrial odour mixtures worth N6.26 billion and beverage-related extracts and flavouring products valued at N6.09 billion.
Nigeria has already commenced efforts to evacuate citizens from South Africa following the renewed xenophobic attacks.
The first batch of Nigerians departed Johannesburg for Lagos as part of a government-led evacuation exercise after the Federal Government announced plans to assist citizens willing to return home amid rising anti-immigrant tensions.
Other African countries have also taken similar steps in response to xenophobic incidents in South Africa, with concerns growing over the safety of foreign nationals in the country.
