Nigeria says it will seek compensation from South Africa for its citizens who have fled the country following recent protests targeting undocumented migrants.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kimibi Imomotimi Abianfa told the BBC the issue would be discussed “at the highest levels” between the two governments.
Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Alexander Ajayi said on local television on Tuesday that the government had begun documenting businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians.
A Nigerian businessman awaiting repatriation told the BBC he had been living in South Africa for almost a decade and had left his business and home out of fear for his safety.
Oghodero Erezor Wilson, 32, said he was losing “everything because of fear”.
“I left everything in my house, including clothes.”
He is among hundreds of Nigerians still waiting to be deported from South Africa. More than 600 Nigerians have already been repatriated in recent weeks.
South African authorities say those deported were in the country illegally – although Nigeria disputes this.
About 25,000 citizens of other African countries have left South Africa following a wave of protests by groups in recent weeks demanding that the government take more steps to curb illegal migration.
Some anti-immigrant groups had given a June 30 deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country and organized a march on Tuesday that was attended by thousands. These were largely peaceful but there were sporadic incidents of violence against foreigners.
South African police say about 900 people were arrested, mostly for immigration-related crimes and robbery.
The BBC has sought comment from the South African government on Nigeria's compensation demand.
Nigeria's acting High Commissioner said he had asked all people leaving South Africa to “very accurately document the things they are leaving behind, in terms of business, even in terms of cars, movable and immovable properties”.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Abianfa told the BBC that all claims would be verified before any formal requests were made.
“We have not severed relations with South Africa, we are still in dialogue with them at the highest level, we will sort out those details using our normal diplomatic channels,” he said.
Businessman Wilson said he has been running a clothing business in the South African city of Centurion, Gauteng province, for several years.
But he said he has now closed his shop and fled to live near the Nigeria High Commission in Pretoria, the South African capital.
Scheduled to depart on the next repatriation flight to Nigeria on Friday, he estimates the goods left in his shop are worth more than 16,000 rand ($975; £735).
Wilson said his residence documents expired in 2021 and he was unable to renew them.
He said that he is not very hopeful about the possibility of getting compensation.
“If the South African government could compensate it, that would be great, but I know they won't,” he said.