The Nigerian federal government has announced intentions to demand compensation from South Africa for citizens forced to vacate their businesses and properties amid rising xenophobic tensions. Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, confirmed that officials are documenting the losses suffered by returnees to facilitate formal restitution claims. This effort follows the safe arrival of 269 Nigerians in Lagos, the third group to be evacuated, bringing the total number of repatriated citizens to 603.
Ajayi emphasized that many Nigerians in South Africa maintain legal residency but were labeled undocumented due to administrative backlogs within the South African Home Office. He noted that systemic delays in processing renewal applications have unfairly jeopardized the status of many law-abiding migrants. The evacuation mission, authorized by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains ongoing as officials continue to coordinate with local authorities to ensure the safety of citizens.
While protests against foreign nationals took place on June 30, reports from Nigerians in South Africa indicate that the situation remained largely peaceful due to a heavy police and military presence. South African authorities deployed significant security resources, including surveillance technology and 13,000 officers, to prevent the violence seen in previous years. Despite the instability, representatives from groups like the Igbo Union South Africa asserted that many Nigerians have established deep economic roots and remain protected by their legal status, rejecting the notion that they can be forcibly expelled by protesters. Nigerian officials continue to advise those remaining in the country to exercise extreme caution and maintain communication with the High Commission.
