The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to launch a massive, coordinated nationwide protest targeting prominent South African-linked corporations operating in Nigeria, including MTN, MultiChoice, and Stanbic IBTC Bank. The student body declared that the action is a direct response to the alleged continued mistreatment of Nigerians and Nigerian-owned businesses in South Africa, following recent reports of xenophobic attacks and looting of businesses owned by Nigerians.
NANS President Vows to Shut Down South African Businesses
Speaking on the planned protest, the NANS President vowed that students across the country would be mobilized to put pressure on the companies. "We are going to shut down MTN and MultiChoice. We will force Nigerians to close their accounts with Stanbic IBTC Bank," the NANS President declared. He emphasized that the protest would be peaceful but insisted that Nigerian youths have the numbers and influence to make their voices heard. According to him, the association is encouraging Nigerians to move away from South African-owned businesses and support indigenous companies instead.
Call to Switch to Nigerian-Owned Alternatives
The student leader urged Nigerians using MultiChoice services and those banking with Stanbic IBTC to consider switching to Nigerian-owned alternatives. "We have Nigerian telecommunications that are doing well. We can invest in them. We are going to instruct our Aluta forces cut across the nation to begin to port from MTN to Nigerian-owned telecoms," he said. He also issued a warning to those patronizing MultiChoice and Stanbic IBTC: "We are going to also sound a plenum of warning to those who are using MultiChoice products, who are patronising Stanbic, to begin to close down their accounts and start patronising Nigerian-owned banks."
Peaceful but Determined Action
The NANS President stressed that the campaign would remain peaceful, saying violence was not the solution despite the anger over the situation in South Africa. "We have the power. We have the capacity. Nigeria has a population of over 240 million people and I can tell you for free that 60 percent of that population are youths. We are students and we have the capacity to do it," he stated. He added, "If the government of South Africa is not ready to take responsibility, we are not going to be violent. We are not going to pay violence with violence because two wrongs do not make a right but we are going to go about it in a peaceful coordinated way until our voices are heard, until the welfare of Nigerian citizens in South Africa are accounted for."
Background and Ultimatum
The NANS President claimed the association had earlier issued a seven-day ultimatum to the South African government but was disappointed by what followed. According to him, rather than seeing efforts to protect Nigerians and their businesses, reports emerged of businesses allegedly being looted after their owners fled the violence. He also alleged that the South African government moved to nationalize some businesses abandoned by Nigerians, a development he described as unacceptable. The student leader further thanked lawmakers, including Senators Adams Oshiomhole and Asuquo Ekpenyong, for speaking on the issue and backing calls for stronger action against South African interests operating in Nigeria.
Renewed Tensions Over Xenophobia
The planned protest comes amid renewed conversations around the safety of Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa, where xenophobic attacks have repeatedly strained diplomatic relations between both countries over the years. For now, NANS says it will continue mobilizing students nationwide while more details about the protest are expected in the coming days.
