By Ayo Kehinde
A diplomatic row is brewing between Nigeria and South Africa after the South African Government rejected Nigeria’s plan to seek compensation for businesses and other assets abandoned by Nigerians evacuated during the recent wave of anti-migrant unrest, insisting that no compensation would be paid for properties acquired through illegal means.
The South African position follows the Federal Government’s announcement that it had begun documenting businesses, vehicles and other movable and immovable assets left behind by Nigerians forced to flee the country amid fears of xenophobic attacks, with a view to pursuing compensation through diplomatic channels.
Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, South Africa’s Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, on Saturday, stated that her government would not compensate anyone for assets acquired through illegal means.
“I am not stammering. Any form of property obtained illegally, we will not compensate for it”, the minister wrote on her verified X account, in what appeared to be a direct response to Nigeria’s planned compensation request.
Her remarks came days after Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, disclosed that the Federal Government would engage South African authorities over losses suffered by Nigerians who abandoned businesses, homes, vehicles and other investments while escaping the renewed anti-migrant tensions.
The compensation issue has emerged as the latest flashpoint between Africa’s two largest economies following weeks of anti-immigrant demonstrations across several South African cities.
The protests, organised by anti-immigration groups including March for March, demanded the removal of undocumented foreign nationals and culminated in a June 30 ultimatum for migrants without valid documentation to leave the country.
The demonstrations sparked widespread fear among migrant communities, prompting thousands of foreign nationals to seek refuge in temporary camps or register for voluntary evacuation to their home countries.
Nigeria was among several African countries (including Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique and Zimbabwe), that launched emergency repatriation programmes to bring home citizens affected by the unrest.
Since the evacuation exercise began, hundreds of Nigerians have returned home aboard special Air Peace humanitarian flights coordinated by the Federal Government.
Despite the end of the June 30 deadline, President Bola Tinubu has directed that the evacuation programme should continue until all Nigerians who voluntarily registered for repatriation have been safely returned.
As part of the Federal Government’s post-evacuation response, Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, disclosed that Nigerian officials had commenced documentation of businesses, vehicles, residential properties and other investments abandoned by returnees.
According to Ajayi, the exercise is intended to support Nigeria’s engagement with the South African Government over compensation for losses incurred by affected citizens.
He stressed that the Federal Government’s concern extends beyond evacuating Nigerians, noting that many victims had spent years building legitimate businesses and acquiring valuable assets before being forced to flee.
Ajayi also challenged suggestions that the majority of Nigerians affected by the crisis were undocumented migrants.
He explained that many Nigerians entered South Africa legally but became caught in prolonged administrative delays involving the renewal of visas and other immigration documents by South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.
Similarly, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, said discussions on the compensation issue would be held “at the highest levels” between both governments.
The ministry has also disputed claims by South African authorities that many Nigerians who returned under the evacuation programme were residing illegally in the country.
For many returnees, the hurried departure meant leaving behind businesses, homes and years of investment.
One Nigerian trader, who had lived in South Africa for nearly a decade, lamented that he had abandoned both his business and residence because he feared for his safety amid the escalating anti-migrant protests.
