Nigeria don talk say dem go demand compensation from South Africa for dia citizens wey don leave that country because of protests wey target undocumented migrants. Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa tell BBC say dis matter go be discussed between di two governments at di highest level.
Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Alexander Ajayi tok for local television on Tuesday say di government don start to document businesses and properties wey Nigerians leave behind. One Nigerian trader wey dey wait to go back home tell BBC say im don live for South Africa for nearly ten years and im don abandon im business and house because of fear for im safety.
Oghodero Erejor Wilson wey be 32 years old say im dey lose everything because of fear. Im tok say, ‘I left everything in my house including clothes.’ Wilson dey among hundreds of Nigerians wey still dey wait to be evacuated from South Africa. More than 600 Nigerians don already go back to Nigeria for recent weeks.
South Africa authorities say those wey dem fly back home dey for di country illegally, but Nigeria dey dispute dis claim. About 25,000 nationals from other African countries don leave South Africa after protests wey dem groups wey dey demand say government must do more to stop illegal migration. Some anti-migrant groups give undocumented foreigners deadline of 30 June to leave di country and dem organise marches wey thousands of people attend on Tuesday.
Dem protests dey mostly peaceful, but there be isolated incidents of violence against foreigners. South Africa police say dem arrest about 900 people, most for immigration-related offences and looting. Chrispin Phiri from South Africa foreign ministry tell BBC on Friday say ‘transparent claims for compensation can be assessed on the facts and a case-by-case basis.’
Nigeria acting high commissioner say im don ask all those wey leave South Africa to document very accurately di things wey dem leave behind, including businesses, cars, and movable and immovable properties. Foreign ministry spokesperson Ebienfa tell BBC say all claims go be verified before any formal request go make. Im add say, ‘We have not severed ties with South Africa, we are still engaging them at the highest level, we will sort those details using our usual diplomatic channels.’
Wilson wey be di trader say im don run clothing business for Centurion for Gauteng province for several years. But im don close im shop and flee to stay near di Nigeria High Commission for Pretoria. Im dey schedule to leave on di next repatriation flight to Nigeria on Friday, and im estimate di goods wey remain for im shop worth more than 16,000 rand ($975; £735). Wilson say im residency documents expire for 2021 and im no fit renew dem. Im no dey too hopeful about compensation, as im tok say, ‘If South Africa government can compensate it, it will be nice, but I know they won’t.’
