FG to Seek Compensation for Nigerians’ Abandoned Businesses, Properties in South Africa

Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, has said the Federal Government will pursue compensation for businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians returning home under the voluntary evacuation programme from South Africa.

Ajayi disclosed this on Tuesday as another batch of Nigerians was expected to arrive in Lagos aboard an evacuation flight organised by the Federal Government.

According to him, those returning voluntarily opted to leave South Africa ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests. He said the Nigerian government has already begun documenting businesses and properties left behind by the returnees.

“We have asked our people who are returning to begin to document what they are leaving behind in terms of businesses, cars and both movable and immovable properties. We can now take it up with the South African government,” Ajayi said.

He added that the repatriation exercise would not end with bringing Nigerians back home, stressing that the Federal Government intends to systematically follow up on information provided by the returnees.

“We are going to work with the South African government to identify the exact locations of these businesses, shops and properties and present them for possible compensation. We will not allow the labour and investments people have built over the years to simply go down the drain,” he stated.

The envoy also rejected claims that most Nigerians living in South Africa were undocumented. According to him, the majority entered the country legally and only encountered challenges due to delays in the renewal of immigration documents.

“In the last three or four years, there has been a huge backlog of applications at the South African Home Office due to systemic issues. Many people were caught in these delays, but it would be wrong to describe them as undocumented because most of them migrated legally,” he said.

Ajayi explained that many migrants had their applications for permit renewals pending for years, leaving them vulnerable despite entering the country through lawful channels.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier announced that an Air Peace aircraft departed Nigeria on Monday and was expected to return with another batch of Nigerians who chose voluntary evacuation.

The evacuation exercise comes as anti-immigration groups in South Africa prepare to stage demonstrations from June 30, prompting Nigerian authorities to intensify efforts to assist citizens willing to return home.

Former Nigerian Ambassador to Switzerland, Joseph Ayalogu, also called on Nigeria and other African countries to demand compensation for victims of xenophobic attacks, particularly those who lost businesses and investments in South Africa.

He condemned attacks on foreign-owned businesses and urged the South African government to enforce existing laws and protect migrants from violence and intimidation.

Ayalogu further argued that African governments should adopt a firmer diplomatic approach in engaging South Africa over recurring xenophobic incidents and ensuring justice for affected foreign nationals.