By Julian Osamoto
The Federal Government says it will engage the South African government to seek compensation for Nigerians forced to abandon businesses and properties amid rising anti-immigrant tensions.
Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, disclosed this while speaking on a Television’s program on Tuesday, as another batch of Nigerians returned home under the Federal Government’s voluntary evacuation programme.
Ajayi said the government has directed returning Nigerians to document businesses, vehicles and other movable and immovable properties left behind to support claims for possible compensation.
He said Nigerian authorities would verify the information with the South African government before pursuing compensation for affected citizens.
Ajayi stressed that the evacuation exercise would not end with bringing Nigerians home but would include efforts to recover losses suffered by returnees.
He also rejected claims that most Nigerians in South Africa are undocumented, arguing that many entered the country legally but became affected by delays in the renewal of immigration documents.
According to him, processing backlogs at South Africa’s Home Office have left many foreign nationals, including Nigerians, waiting years for their documents to be renewed.
The latest evacuation comes as anti-immigration groups in South Africa prepare fresh demonstrations, prompting the Federal Government to continue its voluntary repatriation programme for Nigerians willing to return home.
