FG to demand compensation for Nigerians’ abandoned businesses in South Africa

The Federal Government said it will seek compensation for businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians returning from South Africa under its voluntary evacuation programme. Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief. He said the government had begun documenting businesses and […]

The Federal Government said it will seek compensation for businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians returning from South Africa under its voluntary evacuation programme.

Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed this on Tuesday during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief.

He said the government had begun documenting businesses and other assets left behind by returnees ahead of planned anti-immigrant protests in South Africa.

“We have asked those returning to accurately document everything they are leaving behind, including businesses, cars and other properties. We will work with the South African government to identify these assets and seek possible compensation,” he said.

He said the evacuation exercise would not end with bringing Nigerians home, adding that the government was committed to protecting the investments made by its citizens.

Ajayi also rejected claims that most Nigerians in South Africa were undocumented, insisting that many entered the country legally but were affected by delays in renewing their immigration documents.

271 more Nigerians arrive in Lagos
Meanwhile, Nigerians evacuated from South Africa on Tuesday have warned fellow citizens against relocating to the Southern African country, describing it as increasingly unsafe for foreigners following renewed xenophobic attacks.

The latest batch of 271 returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos on Tuesday aboard an Air Peace Boeing 777-200 aircraft at about 10:35 am, as part of the Federal Government’s evacuation exercise.

Some of the returnees, who spoke shortly after landing, recounted harrowing experiences of intimidation, threats and violent attacks, saying they abandoned businesses, investments and personal belongings in a desperate bid to save their lives.

One of them, Emmanuela, said: “They are so jealous because Nigerians are hardworking and enterprising, so they feel threatened.
“They constantly tell us to leave or be killed. My life was no longer safe, so I had to leave. I left everything behind in South Africa.”

She also alleged that many Nigerians struggled to obtain legal residency permits despite applying for documentation.

Another returnee, Sandy Oris from Anambra State, described his decision to relocate to South Africa 14 years ago as “the biggest mistake” of his life.

He said repeated attacks culminated in the destruction of his business.

“Recently, they destroyed my shop and took all my goods. I came back to Nigeria with nothing,” he said.

He appealed to the Federal Government to provide financial support to returnees, many of whom lost their means of livelihood.

Oris also maintained that many allegations often levelled against Nigerians in South Africa were motivated by prejudice.