Nigeria Seeks Compensation From South Africa Over Abandoned Homes, Businesses, And Property

Nigeria said it will seek compensation from South Africa for citizens who abandoned homes, businesses and property after protests targeting undocumented migrants, and it will raise the matter through diplomatic channels while documenting losses first.

“- Published Nigeria says it will seek compensation from South Africa for its citizens who have left the country following recent protests targeting undocumented migrants”

BBC

Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa told the BBC that Nigeria has not severed ties, saying, "We have not severed ties with South Africa, we are still engaging them at the highest level, we will sort those details using our usual diplomatic channels,".

BBC

Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Alexander Ajayi said authorities asked returning citizens to record what they were forced to leave behind, including businesses and even cars, and he said, "I have asked all of those who have left South Africa to document very accurately those things they were leaving behind in terms of businesses, in terms of even cars, movable and immovable properties,".

The BBC reported that Oghodero Erejor Wilson, 32, fled Centurion in Gauteng province after nearly a decade building a clothing business, and he said, "I am losing everything because of fear,".

The BBC also reported that Wilson estimated the goods left in his shop are worth more than 16,000 rand and said he is due to return to Nigeria on Friday after residency documents expired in 2021.

Nigeria’s documentation push is tied to the voluntary evacuation programme ahead of South Africa’s June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave, with officials instructing returnees to record businesses, vehicles and both movable and immovable property before departing.

Cape Town Etc reported that Alexander Ajayi said, "We are going to ask our people who are returning to begin to document what they are leaving behind," and added that Nigeria intends to verify the location of every reported business and property with South African authorities before seeking compensation.

Blueprint Newspapers

Blueprint Newspapers reported that the third batch of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa arrived in Lagos aboard an Air Peace aircraft that landed at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, at about 10:54 a.m. on Tuesday.

Blueprint Newspapers said the batch of 269 evacuees was received by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by the Director, African Affairs Department, Amb. Haruna Ali-Gombe, and it quoted spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa saying the June 30 deadline is in place but the evacuation process is still on course.

The Sun Nigeria said the Federal Government began discussions with South African authorities over compensation as another batch of 269 Nigerians arrived in Lagos, bringing the total repatriated under the emergency programme to 603.

As Nigeria prepares compensation claims, the BBC reported that South African police said about 900 people were arrested during Tuesday’s demonstrations, mostly for immigration-related offences and looting, while Nigeria disputes South Africa’s claim that repatriated people were living in the country illegally.

“- The Nigerian government is instructing citizens returning from South Africa to document assets they left behind due to anti-immigration tensions”

Business Insider Africa

The BBC said about 25,000 foreign nationals from other African countries have left South Africa in recent weeks after anti-migrant groups demanded undocumented foreigners leave by June 30, and it described protests as largely peaceful with isolated incidents of violence against foreign nationals.

Daily Trust reported that returnees warned fellow citizens against relocating to South Africa, with one returnee, Emmanuela, saying, "They constantly tell us to leave or be killed. My life was no longer safe, so I had to leave,".

Daily Trust also quoted Sandy Oris from Anambra State saying, "Recently, they destroyed my shop and took all my goods. I came back to Nigeria with nothing," and it said he appealed to the Federal Government to provide financial support to returnees.

The Guardian Nigeria News said the Federal Government would seek compensation for Nigerians forced to abandon businesses and other valuable properties as it repatriated 269 more Nigerians, bringing the total evacuated to 603.