The Federal Government has said it will seek compensation from the South African government for Nigerians who were forced to abandon businesses and other valuable properties while returning home following renewed anti-immigrant tensions in the country.
The announcement came as 269 more Nigerians arrived in Lagos aboard the third government-coordinated evacuation flight, bringing the total number of evacuees to 603.
The figure comprises 268 Nigerians airlifted by Air Peace in the first batch on June 11, 66 evacuated by ValueJet in the second batch on June 25, and 269 brought home by Air Peace in the latest operation.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief as the latest batch of evacuees arrived in Lagos, the Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said the government had begun compiling records of businesses and properties abandoned by returning Nigerians.
He said the information would form the basis of discussions with the South African authorities on possible compensation.
“In terms of the businesses, just three days ago, the South African Deputy Minister of Finance and I met and discussed the issue,” Ajayi said.
“We agreed that we would ask our people who are returning to document what they are leaving behind. That was the message we conveyed to them before they departed for Lagos.
“I asked them to accurately document everything they were leaving behind, including businesses, vehicles, and both movable and immovable properties. With that information, we can engage the South African government. That is the next step we are going to take.”
Ajayi said the evacuation exercise would not end with simply bringing Nigerians home.
“We are going to systematically follow up on the information provided to us. I have urged them to be as accurate as possible because we will work with the South African government to identify the exact locations of these businesses, shops, and properties and present the claims for possible compensation.
“We will not allow the years of hard work and investment made by our people to go to waste or be taken over by others,” he added.
Ajayi also reiterated that the majority of Nigerians living in South Africa are legal residents who entered the country through lawful immigration channels.
According to him, delays in the processing of immigration documents by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs have left many foreign nationals stranded despite having migrated legally.
