The Federal Government has announced plans to seek compensation from the South African government for Nigerians forced to abandon businesses, homes and other valuable assets while fleeing renewed anti-immigrant tensions in the country.
The development comes as another 269 Nigerians arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Peace evacuation flight, bringing the total number of evacuees to 603.
The returnees include 268 Nigerians evacuated by Air Peace on June 11, 66 brought home by ValueJet on June 25, and the latest batch of 269.
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, disclosed that the government has begun documenting businesses and properties left behind by returning Nigerians to facilitate discussions on compensation with South African authorities.
According to him, evacuees have been directed to provide detailed records of abandoned businesses, vehicles, shops, and other movable and immovable assets.
“This repatriation will not end with just bringing our people home. We will systematically follow up on all the information provided and engage the South African government on possible compensation. We will not allow years of hard work and investments to be lost,” Ajayi said.
He also rejected claims that most affected Nigerians were undocumented, insisting that many entered South Africa legally but became victims of prolonged delays in the country’s immigration renewal process.
According to the envoy, thousands of foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have been trapped for years due to administrative backlogs at South Africa’s Home Affairs Department.
More Evacuation Flights Planned
The latest evacuation forms part of five Air Peace flights approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring home Nigerians affected by the renewed xenophobic unrest.
Officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Ambassador Haruna Ali Gombe, received the returnees in Lagos and reassured them of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that the evacuation exercise will continue beyond the June 30 deadline, adding that more flights are expected in the coming days.
He urged Nigerians still awaiting evacuation to remain calm, stay security-conscious and maintain contact with the Nigerian High Commission for updates.
Protests Remain Peaceful Under Heavy Security
Meanwhile, Nigerians living in South Africa said the anti-immigrant protests remained largely peaceful due to the massive deployment of security personnel.
South African authorities mobilised about 13,000 security officers, drones, helicopters and over 33,000 CCTV cameras across Gauteng Province to prevent a repeat of the deadly 2021 unrest.
A Nigerian resident in Johannesburg, identified simply as Madueke, said businesses were shut and many residents stayed indoors, but the heavy military presence prevented attacks and looting.
He appealed to the Nigerian government to deploy additional evacuation flights, saying thousands of Nigerians are still stranded and willing to return home.
“They Can’t Force Us Out” — Igbo Union
National Secretary of the Igbo Union South Africa, Ezeanozie Eleberi, maintained that many Nigerians have legal residency, businesses and families in South Africa and cannot be forced out by civilian anti-immigrant groups.
He argued that only about 1,500 Nigerians had voluntarily requested evacuation, stressing that the vast majority remain legally resident and continue to contribute significantly to South Africa’s economy.
Eleberi also blamed South Africa’s immigration system for leaving many Nigerians without valid documents, saying numerous permit renewal applications have remained unprocessed for years.
He urged Nigerians who remain in South Africa to stay law-abiding, avoid confrontation with protesters and remain vigilant until tensions subside.
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