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

Nigeria's Federal Government intends to pursue compensation from South Africa for the businesses and properties its citizens left behind during a voluntary evacuation program. Alexander Ajayi, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, stated that the government is systematically documenting these assets to present a claim to the South African government.

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In terms of the businesses, just three days ago, myself and the South African Deputy Minister of Finance were together, and we were discussing this. I took up the discussion with her, and we have agreed that we are going to ask our people who are returning to begin to document what they are leaving behind, and that was the message yesterday before this set that is due to land in Lagos.

Ajayi explained that returnees were asked to accurately document their abandoned businesses, cars, and properties before departing. He emphasized that the evacuation effort extends beyond merely bringing Nigerians home, aiming to recover the value of their investments. "We will not allow the labor people have suffered to build over the years to just go down the drain or be taken over by people," he said.

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I have asked them before they left yesterday to document very accurately those things they were leaving behind in terms of businesses, in terms of even cars, movable and immovable properties. We can now take it up with the South African government. That is the next step we are going to take.

The envoy also addressed claims of undocumented Nigerians in South Africa, asserting that most entered legally. He attributed issues to systemic delays in processing immigration document renewals at the South African Home Office, which affected many nationals, not just Nigerians. The government's next step involves engaging with South African authorities to secure compensation for the documented losses.

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So, this repatriation will not end with just taking people to Nigeria. We are going to systematically follow up on the information given to us, and I told them to be very accurate with what they are going to give because we are going to work with the South African government to get to the exact locations of all these businesses, shops and properties and present them to the South African government for possible compensation because we will not allow the labour people have suffered to build over the years to just go down the drain or be taken over by people.