The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to engage with the South African government to seek full compensation for Nigerian citizens who were forced to abandon their businesses and properties due to ongoing anti-immigrant protests in the country.
The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, made this disclosure during a recent television interview.
His comments coincided with the expected arrival of another batch of Nigerian evacuees in Lagos, marking the latest phase of the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary evacuation programme.
According to Ajayi, those being repatriated are Nigerians who voluntarily chose to return home to escape the looming threat of newly planned anti-immigrant demonstrations.
To ensure justice for the affected citizens, the envoy revealed that the Federal Government has already commenced the comprehensive documentation of all abandoned assets and businesses to build a strong case for adequate restitution.
Addressing the complex situation of children born into intermarriages between Nigerians and South Africans, the High Commissioner stated that diplomatic discussions are actively underway.
He assured that proper identification and documentation frameworks are being established to ensure these children maintain seamless travel rights and can visit both countries without bureaucratic hurdles.
Meanwhile, Ajayi strongly dismissed widespread claims that the majority of Nigerians residing in South Africa are undocumented.
He maintained that most Nigerians migrated to the country through legal channels, attributing the current documentation crisis to massive administrative backlogs and delays within the South African Home Office.
The envoy emphasized that foreign nationals should not be criminalized or blamed for the host country’s systemic failure to process immigration renewals efficiently.
