Nigeria has received another 298 citizens evacuated from South Africa as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to protect those affected by the recent wave of anti-immigration protests.
The latest group marks the third batch of voluntary returnees airlifted back to Nigeria after renewed xenophobic attacks and growing fears among foreign communities in South Africa. The evacuation is part of an ongoing government operation for Nigerians who chose to return home amid escalating tensions.
Acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Alexander Ajayi, said the Federal Government has moved beyond evacuation and is now documenting businesses, vehicles, shops, and other properties abandoned by returning Nigerians. According to him, the records will form the basis of compensation claims to be presented to the South African government.
Ajayi explained that affected Nigerians have been instructed to provide detailed information about their lost investments, stressing that years of hard work should not be wiped out by violence and unrest. He also rejected claims that most Nigerians in South Africa were undocumented, maintaining that many entered the country legally but became caught in lengthy immigration document renewal delays.
Meanwhile, South African authorities have deployed soldiers and increased security presence across several major cities following widespread anti-migrant protests and attacks that saw foreign-owned businesses and supermarkets targeted by looters. The unrest has forced thousands of foreign nationals to seek safety or voluntary repatriation.
The Nigerian government says it will continue evacuating willing citizens while pursuing diplomatic engagement with South Africa to secure compensation for verified losses. Officials insist the mission will not end with bringing Nigerians home but will also focus on ensuring affected citizens receive justice for properties and businesses left behind.
