Nigeria says it will seek compensation from South Africa for citizens who abandoned their homes, businesses and property following recent protests targeting undocumented migrants.
The Nigerian government said the matter would be raised with South Africa through diplomatic channels, while authorities have begun documenting the damage caused to affected civilians before making any formal claims.
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“We have not severed relations with South Africa, we are still in dialogue with them at the highest levels, we will sort out those details using our normal diplomatic channels,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimibi Imomotimi Abianfa told the BBC.
Abianfa said each compensation claim would first be verified before Nigeria formally presented its case to the South African government.
Nigeria's acting high commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said authorities have asked returning citizens to carefully record all businesses and property they were forced to leave.
“I have asked all those who have left South Africa to accurately document the things they are leaving behind, in terms of businesses, even in terms of cars, movable and immovable properties,” Ajayi said on local television.
The move comes after weeks of protests led by groups demanding tougher action against undocumented immigrants in South Africa. While most demonstrations were peaceful, there were sporadic attacks on foreign nationals, causing many migrants to flee out of fear.
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More than 600 Nigerians have already been repatriated, while hundreds of others are waiting to return home. South African officials say the repatriated people were living in the country illegally, a claim Nigeria disputes.
Among those preparing to leave is businessman Oghodero Erejor Wilson, 32, who said he spent nearly a decade building a clothing business in Centurion, Gauteng province, but gave up everything as tensions mounted.
“I'm losing everything because of fear,” Wilson told the BBC. “I left everything in my house, including clothes.”
Wilson, who is due to return to Nigeria on Friday, estimated the remaining goods in his shop were worth more than 16,000 rand.
He admitted that his residence documents had expired in 2021 and he was unable to renew them. Despite Nigeria's pressure for compensation, he doubts any payments will come.
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He said, “If the South African government could compensate, that would be great, but I know they won't.”
The protests have also affected expatriates from other African countries. About 25,000 foreign nationals are reported to have left South Africa in recent weeks after anti-immigrant groups demanded undocumented foreigners leave the country by June 30.
South African police said about 900 people were arrested during Tuesday's demonstrations, most of whom were charged with immigration-related crimes and looting.
The South African government has not yet responded publicly to Nigeria's planned compensation request.
