Nigeria on Wednesday has accused South Africa of blocking a legal arms purchase and threatened retaliation against major South African companies, including telecom giant MTN Nigeria, if the row is not resolved.
A top official in the office of Nigeria’s National Security Adviser told Agence France-Presse that the country had an agreement to buy $5.7 million worth of military hardware in a deal brokered by a South African firm.
The official, who asked that his name be withheld, said Pretoria had frozen cash that had been wired to the South African firm’s account.
South Africa’s National Prosecuting Authority made no immediate comment, but the asset freeze has been widely reported in both Nigerian and South African media.
“The issue could affect bilateral relations between Nigeria and South Africa,” the NSA official said.
He specifically mentioned MTN, a South Africa-based mobile phone and Internet provider with tens of millions of subscribers in Nigeria, as a company that could be targeted in tit-for-tat reprisals.
“You cannot be making so much money from Nigeria and then turn around and embarrass the people,” the Nigerian official said.
He said Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had called his South African counterpart Jacob Zuma to inform him about the purchase and Abuja was therefore surprised to learn that the deal had been blocked.
Zuma’s spokesman Mac Maharaj declined to comment on the reported conversation between the two leaders, but told AFP the president was not part of the committee that reviews arms deals.
The NSA official did not identify the South African broker.
The website of South Africa’s City Press named the firm as the Cape Town-based Cerberus Risk Solutions but that could not be independently verified.
The development comes three weeks after South African customs officials seized $9.3 million in cash stashed in the luggage of two Nigerians and an Israeli. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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that is very bad of SA , as if they dont understand what Nigeria hav been passing thruogh in the hands of bh and its cohots, sponsors and sympertisers
ReplyDeleteSouth Africans are hypocris. Americans are using dem bcus we said no 2gay marriage
ReplyDeleteDont be easily decieved by the explanation given by the Nigerian government. The South African authority knows more than is reported and believe me, it doesn't seem a clean deal at all. The arms purchase claim is a divertionary tactics because many things will not agree with that claim. A country like Nigeria can ordèr for arms from anywhere in the world without the need to go through the black market, especially when followiing such channels will only make the costs involvèd to be more.
ReplyDeleteAbdulkadir you have said it all, but will many low-thinking Nigerians like the above commentators reason with you?
DeleteLook, the single reason for these unlawful purchase of arms and ammunition is basically to kill innocent Nigerians sake of 2015 elections. This country, we are experiencing the worst administration in the history of Nigeria.
I'm sure you are a defence expert, Mr Adoke, Nigeria can buy from wherever they want, and what makes this a black market purchase? When a broker, buyer and bank was used?
DeleteAdoke obviously reasons from his anus. too bias, too myopic with stupid sentiments.
DeleteAdoke u must be one of those offset people who cannot see anything good about his country. What do u know about arms deal? You want to teach the country on how to procure arms? You you guys fight your country in every issue?
ReplyDeleteThis is just empty threat of the year from Nigeria. What will u do to MTN? Withdraw license and send them packing abi? Don't they pay u tax? Didn't de pay for the license? They turned around ur economy and ur making mouth. Ok when dey go many bussinesses will collapse, dealers, sellers, internet providers, engineers, comp scientists, programmers, etc in their hundreds of thousands will be jobless and many homes will face starvation all becos a country refused to be civilized. Mscheeeew we never reach to have our own plants and scientist that will produce guns for us?
ReplyDeleteMind you Mr. Adoke, black market purchase is usually cheap due to some illegality involved in the supply from the primary source and risk in shipment by buyer. however, no matter what SA shouldn't have brazenly embarrassed us. we should retaliate by dealing with their investments in oil and telecom. ordinary SA that we rescued from apartheid regime in 1994 now has grown to rival us in UN permanent security sit.
ReplyDeleteAdoke is one of those who never see anything good in this government unless its an aboki that's in government everything will seem just right for his tiny little brain, if he has any. born to rule mentality, cattle rearers.
DeleteNigerian Govt. should frozen MTN and all other companies belonging to South Africa so that they can stop taking Nigeria the Giant of Africa for Granted-Shame to S.A
ReplyDeleteSouth Africa if you forget everything cant you remember your a partied struggle but not for Nigerian there will be no headway , now you appear like an insolent prodigal son to Nigerians. President Zuma is not thinking right, if Late Nelson Mandela was alive he would not support your hostile seizure of Nigerian money for agreed trade of arms. You better refund the money before Nigerians react. A stich in time serves nine .
ReplyDeleteSo south africa shud support fg in laundering money. Nigerian youth. We r d worst youth in d world. Ppl support evil cos gej is dia broda
ReplyDelete