Nigeria’s House of Representatives has passed a motion to investigate xenophobic attacks against Nigerians in South Africa and document the economic and material losses suffered by victims.
The losses include properties abandoned by Nigerians and shops allegedly looted or destroyed during recent anti-immigrant protests.
The lawmakers said the investigation would also determine whether the South African government contributed to the attacks against Nigerians and other African nationals, either directly or indirectly.
During Tuesday’s plenary session, Babajimi Benson, who represents the Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, moved the motion calling for a comprehensive legislative inquiry into the attacks.
Benson said the investigation would establish those responsible and document the overall human, economic and social consequences of xenophobic violence against Nigerians in South Africa.
He added that the findings would help lawmakers recommend lasting legislative, diplomatic and institutional measures to protect Nigerians abroad and secure compensation for affected victims.
Lawmakers Call for South Africa to Be Held Accountable
Supporting the motion, Akin Rotimi, who represents the Ikole/Oye Federal Constituency of Ekiti State, said Nigeria should hold the South African government responsible for the attacks.
“The South African government continues to make inciting statements. Through acts of omission, it allows its citizens to believe they will not face consequences,” Rotimi said.
Another lawmaker, Paschal Agbodike from Anambra State, also supported the motion.
He referred to videos circulating online that appeared to show South Africans looting the homes and shops of Nigerians who had left the country.
After the debate, Speaker of the House Abbas Tajudeen referred the motion to the House committees on foreign affairs and other relevant committees.
The committees were directed to document all properties abandoned by Nigerians in South Africa and recommend the next steps.
They are also expected to propose diplomatic, legal and bilateral measures to ensure that those responsible for the attacks are prosecuted and Nigerians legally living in South Africa are protected.
The committees are expected to submit their report within four weeks.
Nigerian Government Considers Compensation Claims
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier indicated that the government could seek compensation for Nigerians who abandoned their properties in South Africa.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, told the BBC earlier this month that the issue would be discussed by both governments at the highest levels.
Ebienfa advised Nigerians planning to leave South Africa to carefully document everything they were leaving behind, including businesses, vehicles and other movable and immovable properties.
Chrispin Phiri, a spokesperson for South Africa’s foreign ministry, told the BBC that transparent compensation claims would be assessed based on the facts of each case.
However, South African government official Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the government would not compensate migrants for properties obtained illegally.
In a post on X, Ntshavheni, a former Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, said: “I do not stammer. Any form of property obtained illegally will not be compensated for.”
More Than 1,400 Nigerians Return Home
More than 1,400 Nigerians have reportedly returned to Nigeria since the latest wave of xenophobic attacks against Africans began in South Africa.
They returned in seven batches of flights arranged by the Nigerian government, according to Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Shettima disclosed this during a meeting of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday, July 19.
He condemned the xenophobic and anti-African attacks as unacceptable.
Nigeria and Ghana have also called for the matter to be included on the agenda of the next African Union meeting.
“This will send a clear message that this form of intolerance is completely unacceptable under any circumstances,” Shettima said.
“South Africa should be reminded that the freedom it enjoys today is the result of the sacrifices and liberation efforts of African countries, including Nigeria.”
South Africa Arrests 159 Undocumented Foreign Nationals
South African authorities have announced the arrest of more than 1,200 suspects, including 159 undocumented foreign nationals accused of violating the country’s immigration laws.
Police said the foreign nationals were arrested in Gauteng Province during Operation Shanela.
The arrests came weeks after South Africa carried out one of its largest crackdowns on undocumented migrants in recent years.
The operation followed weeks of anti-immigrant protests involving violence, intimidation and looting.
Police did not disclose the nationalities of those arrested or explain what would happen to them.
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has also blocked the identity documents of some citizens and asked them to report to officials.
The department said it had begun investigating the validity of the affected identity documents.
It warned that failure to respond could lead to the permanent cancellation of the documents.
