FG to seek compensation for Nigerians affected by South Africa attacks — Enikanolaiye

The federal government has commenced moves to secure compensation for Nigerians who lost property during recent attacks in South Africa.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, disclosed this on Tuesday after briefing the president Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on developments following the attacks.

According to the minister, the government has introduced a data collection exercise to document losses suffered by affected Nigerians as part of plans to formally seek compensation from the South African government.

“We have designed a form to be filled by all Nigerians who may have lost property in South Africa. We want to proceed on the basis of data and the quantum of losses they have suffered before tabling our compensation claims,” Enikanolaiye said.

He said Nigeria would continue to pursue diplomatic negotiations with South Africa while keeping other options open if discussions failed to produce satisfactory outcomes.

“Nigeria has options. We are not helpless in this situation. We would prefer diplomacy and negotiations until we arrive at a mutually acceptable outcome,” he added.

Enikanolaiye stressed that all Nigerians, irrespective of their immigration status, deserve protection under the law.

“Whether they are regular or irregular, they are human beings. Criminals also have a right to life. You cannot hound and kill them because they are criminals,” he said.

The minister explained that his briefing followed Tinubu’s directive to receive South African Foreign Minister and special envoy to President Cyril Ramaphosa, Ronald Lamola, over the attacks.

He said discussions with South African authorities had yielded commitments, including the activation of an early warning mechanism and the strengthening of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission to improve bilateral cooperation and prevent future violence.