The Federal Government has pledged to pursue compensation for Nigerians who were forced to abandon businesses, vehicles, and other properties in South Africa while returning home under its voluntary evacuation programme.
Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said the government’s intervention would go beyond evacuating affected citizens, adding that efforts were underway to recover the value of investments and assets left behind.
Ajayi made the disclosure on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, as another batch of evacuated Nigerians was expected to arrive in Lagos on a Federal Government-arranged flight.
According to him, many of the returnees voluntarily chose to leave South Africa ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests in the country.
He explained that the Nigerian mission had instructed affected citizens to properly document all businesses, shops, vehicles, and other movable and immovable properties before departing South Africa.
The records, he said, would form the basis of discussions with the South African government as Nigeria seeks compensation for citizens who spent years building businesses and investments in the country.
“Just three days ago, I met with the South African Deputy Minister of Finance, and we discussed this issue,” Ajayi said.
“I asked those returning to accurately document everything they are leaving behind, including businesses, cars, and other properties, so we can formally engage the South African government on compensation.”
Ajayi stressed that the Federal Government would not allow the investments and hard work of Nigerians in South Africa to be lost without diplomatic engagement.
He added that Nigerian authorities would work closely with their South African counterparts to identify affected businesses and properties before presenting a formal compensation request.
The move comes amid growing concerns over the safety of foreign nationals following renewed anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa.
