“We Can Send Them Away… Nigeria Will Never Collapse” — Umeh on Xenophobic Attacks in South Africa
Senator Victor Umeh has said Nigeria would remain strong even if South African businesses left the country, as he condemned the recurring xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa.
Speaking on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television, the lawmaker said Nigeria possesses the capacity to develop and sustain industries currently dominated by foreign firms, stressing that the country should prioritise local enterprise.
Reacting to reports of Nigerians being killed and their businesses looted in South Africa, Umeh said:
“We can send them away from here, even their business, who cares? It’s not like Nigeria will collapse if they go, we will never collapse.”
While condemning attacks on foreigners, he warned that such actions ultimately hurt the countries where they occur.
“Attacking and sending foreigners out of your country is not the way to build a nation. By the time people avoid going to South Africa, they will see the hurt they have done to themselves.”
Umeh maintained that Nigerians are capable of providing the same services offered by South African companies if given the necessary support.
“There’s nothing they’re doing in Nigeria that we cannot do for ourselves. If it is satellites that they have, we have to spend money.”
Recalling previous efforts to strengthen indigenous businesses, the senator cited the investment drive by DAAR Communications Plc in 2006 as an example of how Nigerians had rallied behind local innovation.
“So if Nigeria takes it as a priority, it will be able to create all those opportunities. Nigeria has also advanced in digital technology. We can bring these things about.”
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