•Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema
Air Peace Chief Executive Officer, Allen Onyema, has called for a peaceful economic response to xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa, urging citizens to boycott the country rather than engage in violence or retaliation.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Onyema expressed frustration over repeated attacks on foreign nationals, questioning the failure of South African authorities to curb the situation despite having security agencies in place.
He criticised incidents where Nigerians and other foreigners are allegedly harassed, questioned, and forced out of their businesses, arguing that such actions ignore the contributions of Nigerian entrepreneurs in South Africa.
“How do you explain when people will march into somebody’s house… ‘Can I see your papers? You’re a foreigner, you have to go back home’?” he asked.
The Air Peace founder however, firmly rejected any form of violent retaliation, stressing that Nigerians are not a violent people and should not attack South Africans or their businesses.
“I don’t want Nigerians to go to the street and attack any South Africans. Nigerians are not like that. We love foreigners,” he said.
He also proposed economic disengagement as a more effective response, calling on Nigerians to withdraw investment and avoid doing business in South Africa.
“The kind of retaliation I want is non-violent action. Boycott South Africa. Don’t invest in that country,” he stated, adding that such a move would send a stronger message than violence or destruction of property.
Onyema maintained that peaceful economic pressure remains the most strategic and responsible way to address the recurring tensions.
