FG TO SEEK COMPENSATION FOR NIGERIANS WHO ABANDONED BUSINESSES, PROPERTIES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Read Time:2 Minute, 25 Second
By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal Government says it will engage the South African government to seek compensation for Nigerians forced to abandon businesses and properties amid rising anti-immigrant tensions in the country.
Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, as another batch of Nigerians was expected to arrive in Lagos under the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary evacuation programme.
Ajayi said the returnees are Nigerians who voluntarily opted to leave South Africa ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests scheduled to begin on June 30.
According to him, the Nigerian government has commenced the documentation of businesses, vehicles and other movable and immovable properties abandoned by the returnees as part of efforts to pursue compensation.
He revealed that the matter had already been discussed with South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, adding that the information gathered from the returnees would form the basis of formal engagement with the South African government.
“In terms of the businesses, just three days ago, myself and the South African Deputy Minister of Finance were together and we discussed this issue. We have agreed that our people returning should accurately document everything they are leaving behind, including businesses, cars and other movable and immovable properties,” Ajayi said.
He explained that the Federal Government would systematically verify the information and work with South African authorities to identify the affected properties with a view to securing possible compensation.
“This repatriation will not end with simply bringing people back to Nigeria. We will follow up on the information provided because we cannot allow the years of labour and investment of our citizens to be lost or taken over by others,” he added.
The Acting High Commissioner also dismissed claims that most Nigerians in South Africa are undocumented, insisting that the majority entered the country legally.
He attributed the situation to prolonged delays by South Africa’s Home Office in processing the renewal of immigration documents, affecting not only Nigerians but other foreign nationals.
According to him, many migrants became trapped in administrative backlogs after applying to renew expired permits, making it unfair to classify them as undocumented immigrants.
“In the last three to four years, there has been a huge backlog of applications at the South African Home Office due to systemic issues. Many foreign nationals, including Nigerians, were affected by these delays. They entered South Africa legally but have had their renewal applications pending for years,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday and was expected to return to Lagos on Tuesday morning with another batch of Nigerians participating in the voluntary evacuation programme.
The latest evacuation comes as anti-immigration groups prepare to stage demonstrations across parts of South Africa, prompting the Federal Government to continue facilitating the return of Nigerians willing to come home.
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