June 30 (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has announced plans to seek compensation for Nigerians who were forced to abandon businesses, vehicles and other valuable assets while fleeing renewed anti-immigrant tensions in South Africa, as it dismissed claims that most Nigerians living in the country are undocumented migrants.
Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, disclosed that the government has commenced a comprehensive documentation of businesses, vehicles and other movable and immovable properties left behind by returning Nigerians as part of efforts to pursue compensation claims with the South African authorities.
Ajayi said the initiative formed part of the Federal Government’s broader intervention aimed at safeguarding not only the lives of its citizens but also the investments many of them had built over several years in South Africa.
According to him, the exercise goes beyond the ongoing evacuation of Nigerians, stressing that the government is determined to ensure affected citizens are not left to bear the financial consequences of the latest anti-immigrant tensions alone.
“We are documenting the businesses, vehicles and other assets left behind by our nationals. The exercise is not only about bringing Nigerians home safely but also about ensuring they do not lose investments they have built over the years. We intend to engage the South African authorities on appropriate compensation”, he said.
The envoy noted that officials were compiling detailed records of affected Nigerians and the assets abandoned during the emergency evacuation in preparation for formal discussions with the South African government.
Ajayi also pushed back against suggestions that the majority of Nigerians residing in South Africa are undocumented migrants, describing such claims as inaccurate and misleading.
He explained that many Nigerians entered South Africa through lawful channels and maintained valid immigration status, but later became trapped in prolonged delays associated with the renewal of visas and residence permits by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.
According to him, the administrative backlog has left many foreign nationals in legal limbo despite complying with the country’s immigration requirements.
He urged the public to refrain from stereotyping Nigerians in South Africa, insisting that the vast majority are law-abiding residents engaged in legitimate businesses and other productive economic activities.
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