The Nigerian government has instructed citizens returning from South Africa to document businesses, vehicles and other assets they were forced to leave behind, as Abuja begins discussions with Pretoria over possible compensation.
Nigeria's Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Alexander Ajayi, said the Federal Government intends to seek compensation for businesses and investments abandoned by Nigerians returning home under its voluntary evacuation programme, launched amid escalating anti-immigration tensions as nationwide protests unfold across South Africa.
In an interview with Nigeria's Channels Television, Ajayi said the government's intervention would not end with evacuating affected citizens but would also focus on protecting their economic interests.
According to him, the Nigerian mission has directed returnees to compile detailed records of businesses, shops, cars and other movable and immovable properties they left behind before departing South Africa.
The government's intervention comes as the self-styled March and March movement begins nationwide anti-immigration protests across South Africa today - June 30, with organisers calling for the mass deportation of undocumented migrants.
