Nigerian Senate May Expel DSTV, MTN, Shoprite Over Xenophobic Attacks

Nigerian Senate on Tuesday weighed the option of expelling South African companies in Nigeria over xenophobic attacks.

This is coming as Nigerians in South African are at the mercy of various attacks by the citizens who believed that Nigerian citizens have taken over many of their jobs.

Senator Olusola Adeyeye representing Osun Central constituency of Osun State gave the hint during Tuesday’s plenary.

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Xenophobia: Nigerian students threaten South African companies

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has given 48 hours ultimatum to all South African companies in Nigeria to relocate over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

The students gave the ultimatum at a peaceful demonstration at some South African companies in Abuja on Thursday.

During the march the students carried a banner, which read: “NANS Against Xenophobic Attacks on Nigerians.”

While the students marched, the security men stood and watched to ensure law and order.

The president of NANS, Kadiri Aruna, said in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at DSTV office, a South African company, in Wuse 2, Abuja, that Nigerian students had resolved to condemn the attacks.

“We are saying that enough is enough as South Africans have openly attacked and bullied Nigerians,” he said.

Mr. Aruna said that the protest would also serve as a warning to other countries trying to underrate Nigerians.

He said that after 48 hours, if nothing was done, messages would be sent to students in all university campuses to bring down MTN masts all over the country.

Mr. Aruna said that DSTV and Shoprite would also be affected as the union had put adequate strategies in place to make the action effective.

“All the South African business empires in Nigeria and their collaborators in Nigeria will be affected.

“I don’t want to say we will be barbaric but we will not be lawful in our actions, we will do it and face the consequences, enough of this rubbish,’’ he said.

Mr. Aruna stressed that the poor treatment being meted out to Nigerians was particularly insulting given the role Nigeria played in ending the apartheid regime in South Africa.

“Nigeria contributed 80 per cent of the freedom the South Africans are enjoying today because we saved them from the jaws of apartheid.

“Who is South Africa to humiliate Nigeria? So they forget things so soon, let them go back to history and records to see how much financial assistance and what the country did to save them,’’ he said.

The union president said that the situation was inhuman and for this reason all reasonable Nigerians must react.

“In science they say you use malaria to cure malaria, now you use madness to cure their madness, and that is why we are advising them to leave Nigerian soil before 48 hours.’’

He said that the Federal Government should not wait till the dying minute before evacuating Nigerians from South Africa.

Mr. Aruna said it was time for government not to only condemn the attacks but take a firm stand by summoning South Africa’s high commissioner and if possible cut diplomatic ties with that country.

“Government should take extra-diplomatic measures in dealing with the latest deadly assaults because if nothing drastic is done it will become a regular occurrence.

“This is the time to place South Africa where it belongs,’’ he said.

He said that the last time the xenophobic attack happened nothing was done, no action was taken and no arrest was made and that was why South Africans repeated the attacks.

Aruna said it was so unfortunate that during the attacks the South African Government refused to take up its responsibility of securing Nigerians and their properties.

“The government of South Africa is criminally quiet and they say silence is consent, and their police are folding their hands while they are killing Nigerians, this is conspiracy, enough is enough,’’ he said.

He said the peaceful rally would continue and spread across the country.

Over 50 police and, DSS operatives surrounded the DSTV premises and along the street making it impossible for NAN to contact any DSTV officials for comments.

 

Source: NAN

Despite Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in S/Africa, Shoprite’s profit soars in Nigeria.

South African retailer, Shoprite, reported a 15.5 per cent jump in half-year profit, buoyed by sharp sales growth in Angola and Nigeria.

Shoprite on Monday scrapped plans to merge with Steinhoff International.

Shoprite, which sells mostly groceries, has grown rapidly outside its home market with sales in other African countries now accounting for more than a fifth of the retailer’s total.

A merger with Steinhoff International would have created an African retail giant, but the plan was called off after minority shareholders complained that the proposed deal would offer little value for Shoprite.

Some analysts said there were no obvious synergies between the two businesses.

Shoprite reported diluted headline earnings per share of 460 cents for the six months to end-December in line with forecasts and compared with 398.2 cents a year earlier.

Sales in Angola surged 155 per cent from a year ago, while Nigerian revenue jumped 60 per cent.

Both are important growth markets for the retailer, but experienced a shortage of foreign exchange as oil revenues remained under pressure affecting economic growth.

However, Shoprite said it was able to fund its stock requirements from its external balance sheet and kept shelves stocked while many traders in the region struggled.

“It was exceptional growth and we must be cautious because to continue at 150 per cent is unlikely,” Chief Executive Pieter Engelbrecht, said in an investor presentation.

He took the reins from stalwart Whitey Basson in January.

 

Source: Reuters/NAN

Man Gets 12 Weeks Imprisonment For Breaking Into Shoprite

 Gudu Upper Area Court in Abuja on Monday sentenced a 30-year-old man, Hassan Jamilu, to twelve weeks in prison for breaking into Shoprite’s cash room and attempting to break the safe.

The Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, gave Jamilu an option of fine in the sum of N30, 000 and warned him to desist from committing crimes.

He also advised the plaintiff, as a private organisation, to file a civil matter for compensation.

Jamilu of no fixed address was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal trespass, shop breaking and attempt to commit an offence of theft.

The Prosecutor, Patrick Ebong, had told the court that one Harrison Jatau of Pavilion Security Limited, Shoprite mall, Apo, Abuja, reported the matter at the Apo Police Station on April 25.

He said Jamilu criminally trespassed into the said mall through the backyard, climbed the fence to the roof top and broke into the ceiling.

He said the convict used a robe and dropped down into the cash room of the mall and attempted to break the safe.

Ebong said the security alarm blew and the convict narrowly escaped and was eventually caught and arrested by the police on Aug. 15.

He said that the convict was also captured by the CCTV installed within the rooms of the mall.
Ebong said that the offence contravened Sections 348, 355 and 95 of the Penal Code.

He also said the convict was arrested with pliers, scissors, two screw drivers, one flame mate burner and its gas, rain coat robe and an umbrella.

Jamilu pleaded guilty and asked for leniency.

Credit: NAN

Lagos Shuts Shoprite Over Breach Of Safety Law, Expired Goods

The Lagos State Safety Commission on Friday shut the multi-billion multi-national shopping outlet, Shoprite located at the Ikeja Shopping Mall, Ikeja, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, for allegedly breaching safety law.

 

Officials of the commission were said to have stormed Shoprite on Friday afternoon and drove everyone out and sealed off the massive premises, placing a seal order at the entrance.

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The seal order notice read: “Sealed, this premises has been sealed following the breach of safety law. This seal must not be broken. For further enquiries, contact the Commission.”

 

Many customers who did not know that the place had been shut were stranded outside the premises on Friday night.

 

A source in the commission who confirmed that the place was shut for failing to abide by the safety laws of the state, said there had been complaints by members of the public about adulterated and expired products being sold in the outlet, adding that investigation was also carried out before the place was shut.

 

Investigations revealed that some products that were supposed to expire in one month’s time were found on the shelves of Shoprite in Ikeja.

 

A customer, who craved anonymity, said she once bought expired milk at Shoprite, saying that the closure of the outlet was long overdue.

 

There have also been complaints by others about expired products at various Shoprite outlets.

 

Officials of Shoprite have been asked to report at the commission’s office on Monday while the outlet remains shut throughout the weekend.

 

Efforts to speak to Shoprite officials proved abortive as none of them was available to speak to our correspondent.

 

Shoprite, which is listed on Namibia Stock Exchange and Zambian Stock Exchange is a South African-based retail and fast food company. It operates over 1,200 corporate and 270 franchise outlets in 16 countries across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

 

The Shoprite Group of companies started from South Africa small town beginnings in 1979 with the purchase of a chain of 8 supermarkets in Cape Town for 1 million Rand.

 

The next 30 years were marked by various acquisitions and innovative expansion strategies that brought it to the R72 billion business that Shoprite is today.

 

Credit : PM News