Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu says about 5,000 jobs have been lost in Lagos as a result of the recent xenophobic reprisal attacks in Lagos.
Angered by the wave of attacks on Nigerians living and doing business in South Africa by the citizens of that country, some Nigerian youths on Tuesday and Wednesday, launched an offensive on businesses suspected to be owned and operated by South Africans in Lagos, leading to the closure of the premises of such businesses, including Shoprite.
Sanwo-Olu on Saturday went on inspection of facilities allegedly destroyed during the attacks.
He said, ‘’We have seen the level of destruction at both Novare Plaza and Surulere Plaza. The first is to condemn the act that had led to this destruction in strong terms. This is extensive destruction of people’s wealth. Unfortunately, during my inspection of both plazas, I discovered that those affected were all indigenous stores and companies. Even the names that are synonymous with South African, I could see that there were over 150 staffs that could not get to perform their duties because of the act.
‘’From the evidence shown, we realised that people also jumped in through some nearby property within the community. All these are unimaginable.
‘’But really the lesson learnt from all these were that we all go back and check what are the social implications of what has happened and how can we learn from it.’’
‘’When people come into a store overnight to loot the goods, it is an act that must be condemned. With the act now, over 5000 people are out of job. These are places that Nigerians were the major ones affected,” he said.
The governor urged business owners to embark on a robust engagement with their local communities, saying engaging in strong interaction with the community where they do business would help to assuage such occurrence.
‘’This will make the people to attach some significant to the brands as it concerns what that brand has done for them in their communities. That brand then become something that one relate with. The residents will know that this is the brand that has taken people out of poverty and other things done for them to develop,” he said.
Joshua Bassey
