Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana has called on the Federal Government to impose economic sanctions on South African companies operating in Nigeria in response to repeated xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and the destruction of their businesses in South Africa.

Speaking with journalists in Ilawe-Ekiti, Falana argued that diplomatic protests alone would not force Pretoria to act decisively. He said Nigeria should apply the principle of reciprocity in international relations.

Falana noted that while the government could lodge a complaint with the African Union, the move would likely have limited effect because of South Africa’s influence within the body, which could result in resolutions without enforcement.

He maintained that Nigeria has a duty to respond when its citizens are driven out of South Africa and their businesses destroyed. 

He urged Nigerians to switch from South African-owned firms where alternatives exist, specifically mentioning telecommunications giant MTN, as a way to send a strong message. 

He also called for the revocation of mining licences held by South African companies in Nigeria.

Falana referenced Nigeria’s nationalisation of British Petroleum in the 1970s over apartheid as a historical precedent, saying similar steps against South African investments could be considered if necessary.

At the same time, he criticised the Nigerian government for failing to adequately protect its citizens from harassment and rights violations across Africa. 

He pointed out that Nigeria has not deposited the instruments needed to allow its nationals to bring individual cases before the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania.

“If Nigerians could approach the African Court in the same way citizens can approach the ECOWAS Court in Abuja, South Africa would have been dragged before the court by victims of xenophobic attacks,” he said. 

He challenged the government to grant citizens access to the continental court without further delay. 

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