By our reporter 1.7.2026
Nigerian government officials said they would be asking South Africa to compensation Nigerians who have abandoned their properties in the wake of the xenophobic protests that rocked Nelson Mandela’s once cherished country.
According to BBC reports Nigeria’s High Commissioner to South Africa Alexander Ajayi has started compilation of list of property abandoned by Nigerians with a view seeking for compensations.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa noted that the issue would be discussed between the two governments “at the highest levels”.
So far roughly half of the 1000 Nigerians who register to voluntary leave South Africa have been evacuated with so many others still waiting to return to their country.
The South African authorities say those who have been flown home were in the country illegally – though this is disputed by Nigeria.
About 25,000 nationals of other African countries have left South Africa following a wave of protests in recent weeks by groups demanding that the government does more to curb illegal migration.
Some anti-migrant groups had given undocumented foreigners a deadline of 30 June to leave the country and organised marches attended by thousands of people on Tuesday. These were largely peaceful but there were isolated incidents of violence against foreigners.
Nigerians returning from South Africa...