Reprisal Attack: MTN Threatens To ‘Sack’ 6,000 Nigerians

Telecoms giant in Nigeria, MTN, has warned that any attempts by Nigerians to attack its facilities in the country in retaliation to the xenophobia attack on Nigerians and other foreigners living in South Africa may spell doom.

The company said if the threats by some Nigerian youths are carried out, it will have no other option than to leave, which will affect about 6,000 Nigerians on its payroll.

In a statement issued by MTN recently, the organisation also frowned at calls to boycott its services, describing such as “unjustified”, adding that carrying out such threats will make about 500,000 Nigerians lose their incomes.

According to the statement issued by MTN’s Corporate Service Executive, Wale Goodluck, there are only 12 expatriates from South Africa working in the company in Nigeria.

Goodluck explained that MTN has spent in excess over $15 billion on capital expenditure growing its business in Nigeria.

“So, if people who are threatening decide to go ahead with their threats and attack our facilities, that mean the company will be forced to close down its business in Nigeria, then those over 6,000 Nigerians will be unemployed.

“Including those on our support chain, who are about 500,000 Nigerians fully employed. So, boycotting MTN services will be destroying some other Nigerian businesses,” he said.

He added that, “MTN supports a lot of businesses across the Nigeria. Many other businesses affiliated to South Africa are done in a retail space, and has been supporting the growth of Nigeria and employing Nigerians.”

Some youths in Abuja and Benin have threatened to attack businesses owned by South Africans in Nigeria, including MTN, MultiChoice, Shoprite and others in retaliation to the racist attaks in the former apartheid country.