The Federal Government says it will engage the South African government to seek compensation for Nigerians forced to abandon businesses, vehicles, and other valuable properties while returning home amid renewed anti-immigrant tensions in the country.
The Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday. He said the government has begun asking returnees to document all businesses and movable and immovable assets they left behind so the information can be used in discussions with South African authorities.
Ajayi explained that the repatriation effort would not end with bringing Nigerians back home, stressing that the government intends to work with South African officials to verify the abandoned properties and pursue possible compensation for affected citizens.
He also rejected claims that most Nigerians living in South Africa are undocumented, arguing that many entered the country legally but became trapped by prolonged delays in the renewal of immigration documents at South Africa’s Home Affairs department.
The development comes as another batch of Nigerians is expected to arrive in Lagos under the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary evacuation programme, launched in response to renewed anti-immigrant protests in South Africa
Post a Comment