Falana Urges Nigerians to Boycott MTN Amid Xenophobia

Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, called for a boycott of the South African telecommunications company MTN in response to ongoing xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa. Speaking at his home in Ilawe-Ekiti after a thanksgiving Mass for the late Alawe of Ilawe-Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, Falana emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt measures based on reciprocity in international relations, arguing that diplomatic protests alone would not compel the South African government to act decisively.

He criticized the Nigerian government's plan to seek intervention from the African Union, stating that South Africa's influence within the organization could hinder effective enforcement of any resolutions. Falana urged Nigerians to support alternatives to South African businesses and suggested revoking mining licenses of South African companies in Nigeria.

He also highlighted the government's failure to protect its citizens from human rights violations and called for the recognition of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to allow individual petitions from Nigerians.