Nigeria Demands Compensation for Abandoned Property
Nigeria has announced it will pursue compensation from South Africa for businesses, vehicles, and other property abandoned by citizens who fled the country amid recent anti-migrant protests. The federal government stated that discussions will proceed through diplomatic channels after officials began documenting assets left behind by affected Nigerians preparing to return home.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa confirmed that both countries remain in contact and that the matter will be addressed through official engagement. "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," he told the BBC.
Verification Process Underway
Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said officials have instructed affected citizens to provide detailed records of businesses, vehicles, and other movable and immovable assets they were forced to leave behind before departing the country. Authorities emphasized that every claim will be verified before any formal compensation request is presented to the South African government.
The move follows weeks of protests in parts of South Africa, where anti-migrant groups called for undocumented foreign nationals to leave. Thousands reportedly joined demonstrations held on Tuesday. Although most marches were peaceful, isolated attacks against foreign nationals were also reported.
Evacuee Shares Heartbreaking Story
One of those awaiting evacuation, 32-year-old trader Oghodero Erejor Wilson, said fear forced him to abandon the life he had built over almost a decade in South Africa. "I left everything in my house including clothes," he said. Wilson operated a clothing business in Centurion, Gauteng Province, but shut down the shop before relocating close to the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria while awaiting repatriation.
He estimated that goods left in his business premises were worth more than 16,000 rand. He also disclosed that his residency documents expired in 2021 and had not been renewed. Wilson expressed doubt that affected citizens would eventually receive financial restitution: "If South Africa government can compensate it, it will be nice, but I know they won't."
Over 600 Nigerians Already Repatriated
More than 600 Nigerians have already been repatriated in recent weeks, while hundreds of others remain on the evacuation list. An Air Peace flight carrying about 271 evacuees landed at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos shortly before 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 3. South African authorities have maintained that those returning were residing in the country illegally, a position disputed by the Nigerian government.
Ebienfa said Nigerian officials will carefully examine every reported loss before making any formal compensation request. The South African government had not publicly responded to Nigeria's planned compensation request at the time of reporting.
