The management of leading ICT company in Nigeria, MTN has condemned the wave of xenophobic attacks targeted at foreigners in South Africa.
In a statement by MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, Akinwale Goodluck, the attacks constitute an assault on the much-celebrated, common African humanity. “The recent spate of xenophobic violence in Johannesburg and Durban focusing on foreigners and their businesses isunwarranted, and indeed worrisome. In Africa, we are our brother’s keeper; and at MTN, we align with the concerted efforts of the South African government in stopping the attacks and protecting the lives and properties of foreign nationals, most especially Nigerians,” he said.
Goodluck said as a mark of its support to the victims of the attacks, MTN Group has provided financial support to the transit camps where many are presently being sheltered. He said the money provided would be used to purchase food, medicals, beddings, clothing and other necessities.
Also speaking against the backdrop of some calls for reprisal attacks on some Nigerian businesses with South African affiliation, he said such knee-jerk reactions would be counter-productive and unjustifiable. “MTN Nigeria is a Nigerian business employing 99 percent Nigerians. Out of our over 6,000 staff, only 12 are expatriates; the rest are Nigerians. Also, when you look at our value chain, over 500,000 Nigerians are gainfully employed indirectly by MTN. So you see that attacking us or boycotting our services will negatively impact Nigerians, the very people we seek to serve and empower.”
Goodluck emphasized MTN’s commitment to Nigeria through continuous investment. “To date, we have sunk over $15 billion in Nigeria through network infrastructure, and we have spent over N10 billion on corporate social responsibility. We have built our business based on sustainability in the long term because we are wholly Nigerian.”