Air Peace CEO Allen Onyema Calls for Nigerian Boycott of South Africa Over Xenophobic Attacks

Allen Onyema, chairman and chief executive officer of Nigeria’s Air Peace airline, urged Nigerians to impose a non‑violent economic boycott of South Africa in response to repeated xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian and other African migrants. In televised interviews he said the retaliation should be economic, urging citizens, business leaders and the Nigerian government to withdraw investments, halt expansion plans in South Africa and boycott South African brands operating in Nigeria. He stressed that violence must be avoided and that Nigerians should not attack South Africans or South African‑owned firms such as MTN, noting many Nigerians hold shares in those companies.

Onyema criticised South African authorities for failing to protect foreign nationals and highlighted the contributions of Nigerian entrepreneurs to the South African economy. He called for diplomatic pressure backed by “strategic economic disengagement” while supporting calls for stronger government action to safeguard Nigerians abroad.