The Nigerian Federal Government has announced plans to negotiate with South African officials to secure compensation for citizens forced to abandon their livelihoods amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Acting High Commissioner Alexander Ajayi stated that returnees are currently documenting their lost assets, including shops, vehicles, and various properties, to facilitate these discussions.
Ajayi emphasized that this evacuation process involves more than just transport; officials are systematically recording specific details about abandoned investments. This data will be presented to the South African government to ensure that the hard work of Nigerian nationals is not lost. He stressed that the government intends to verify these locations and fight for the recovery of these holdings.
Addressing misconceptions regarding immigration status, the High Commissioner refuted allegations that most affected Nigerians were undocumented. He attributed the status of many individuals to administrative backlogs within the South African Home Office. According to Ajayi, many migrants entered the country legally but became trapped in bureaucratic delays while attempting to renew their residency documentation. He argued that these systemic issues, rather than illegal status, explain the current difficulties faced by many foreign residents.
