The Federal Government says it will engage the South African government to seek compensation for businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians returning home under the ongoing voluntary evacuation programme prompted by renewed anti-immigrant tensions.
The Federal Government has announced plans to demand compensation from the South African government for businesses, vehicles and other properties abandoned by Nigerians forced to return home amid renewed anti-immigrant tensions in the country. The move follows the evacuation of another batch of Nigerians from Johannesburg to Lagos under the government’s voluntary repatriation programme.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, disclosed that the government has directed returning Nigerians to properly document the businesses, shops, vehicles and other movable and immovable assets they were compelled to leave behind.
According to him, the documentation will form the basis of discussions with South African authorities as Nigeria seeks compensation for affected citizens who lost investments built over several years.
The announcement comes against the backdrop of widespread anti-immigrant protests across South Africa, where citizen-led groups demanded the departure of undocumented foreign nationals. The protests prompted hundreds of Nigerians to voluntarily return home over fears of xenophobic violence and attacks on foreign-owned businesses.
Ajayi stressed that the Federal Government’s intervention would not end with evacuating citizens, adding that officials intend to work with South African authorities to verify the abandoned properties and pursue appropriate compensation where possible.
He urged returnees to provide accurate information on all assets left behind to facilitate the government’s engagement with Pretoria.
The compensation initiative marks the next phase of Nigeria’s response to the South African crisis, as authorities seek to protect the economic interests of affected citizens while continuing evacuation efforts. Officials say discussions with the South African government will commence after the documentation process is completed.