Nigeria Says It Will Claim Damages For Citizens Forced Out Of South Africa

Nigeria plans to seek compensation from South Africa over its nationals who have left the country, saying many were forced to abandon businesses, homes and other property.

More than 600 Nigerians have already been repatriated, with hundreds more awaiting flights home. The departures followed recent protests targeting undocumented migrants.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa told the BBC the matter would be raised between the two governments “at the highest levels”.

On Tuesday, Nigeria’s acting high commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said on local television that authorities had started documenting businesses and property left behind by Nigerians.

South African officials maintain that those flown home were in the country illegally — a claim Nigeria disputes.

Ajayi said he had asked Nigerians who left to “document very accurately those things they were leaving behind in terms of businesses, in terms of even cars, movable and immovable properties”.

Ebienfa told the BBC all claims would be verified before a formal request for compensation is submitted.

“We have not severed ties with South Africa, we are still engaging them at the highest level, we will sort those details using our usual diplomatic channels,” he said.

A Nigerian trader due to be repatriated told the BBC he had abandoned his home and business after nearly a decade in South Africa because he feared for his safety.

Oghodero Erejor Wilson, 32, said he was losing “everything because of fear”.

Wilson ran a clothing shop in Centurion, Gauteng province, for several years. He has since closed the business and moved to stay near the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria.

He is scheduled to leave for Nigeria on the next repatriation flight on Friday. He estimates the stock left in his shop is worth more than R16,000.

Wilson said his residency documents expired in 2021, and he had been unable to renew them. He added that he was not optimistic about receiving compensation.

“If the South African government can compensate it, it will be nice, but I know they won’t,” he said.