*Says Won’t Let Years Of Hardwork Go To Waste
NIGERIA has announced plans to seek compensation from South Africa for Nigerians forced to abandon their businesses, homes and valuable properties while fleeing renewed xenophobic in the country.
The announcement came just as another batch of 269 Nigerians landed at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos on the third evacuation flight, bringing the number of citizens so far repatriated to over 600.
The figures include the first batch of 268 Nigerians airlifted by Air Peace on June 11; 66 brought home by ValueJet on June 25; and the latest evacuation by Air Peace.
Speaking on a television programme, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, said the government had already begun collecting records of businesses and properties left behind by returning Nigerians, which will serve as the foundation for discussions with South African authorities on possible compensation.
Ajayi disclosed that he had already discussed the matter with South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Finance, stressing that affected Nigerians had been instructed to carefully document every asset they were leaving behind, including businesses, vehicles and both movable and immovable properties.
He stressed that the repatriation exercise would not end with simply bringing people back to Nigeria, as government intends to systematically pursue every verified claim with South African authorities.
He insisted: “We cannot allow years of sacrifice and hard work built by Nigerians to simply disappear or be taken over.”
Ajayi rejected claims that many Nigerians in South Africa were undocumented immigrants, saying the majority entered the country legally, but became trapped in lengthy delays caused by inefficiencies within South Africa’s Home Affairs system.
He said a backlog of immigration applications over the past several years affected not only Nigerians, but also many foreign nationals seeking to renew their permits and legal documents.
The returnees were received by government officials, who reassured them of Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad, promising continued diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to assuage their pains.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the evacuation process would continue beyond the June 30 deadline imposed on undocumented foreigners to leave South Africa.
It, therefore, urged Nigerians awaiting evacuation to remain calm, stay security conscious and avoid areas where demonstrations were taking place.
South African authorities deployed heavy security, involving over 13,000 personnel, alongside drones, helicopters and tens of thousands of surveillance cameras to prevent the protests from turning violent.
Security personnel prevented protesters from carrying out attacks and looting businesses and shops of foreigners.
