Nigeria’s demand for compensation over abandoned properties has been rejected by South Africa following recent evacuations of its citizens.
The acting Nigerian High Commissioner to South Africa, Temitope Ajayi, had earlier said the government was compiling records of businesses and assets left behind by returnees to form the basis for possible compensation talks with South African authorities.
However, South Africa’s Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, dismissed the proposal at a press briefing on Friday, saying only legally registered properties are recognised under South African law.
She explained that informal settlements are illegal and therefore not eligible for compensation, adding that owners of legitimate assets can dispose of them through the country’s property market.
Ntshavheni also urged Nigerian authorities to provide information on alleged drug-related activities, saying the government would act on credible intelligence.
She added that South Africa would intensify measures to prevent the re-emergence of informal settlements after demolitions, insisting there would be no state compensation for properties left in such areas.
