Nigeria plans to claim compensation for assets left by citizens returning from South Africa

Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Tijjani Yahaya, announced that a systematic inventory of businesses and properties abandoned by Nigerians returning from abroad is now underway. The documentation drive, coordinated by the High Commission in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Domestic Investment Promotion Agency, aims to record assets ranging from commercial premises and retail outlets to agricultural holdings that were left unattended as expatriates repatriated during the past year.

The initiative is intended to provide a clear legal basis for the restitution or disposal of the recorded assets, facilitate reintegration of returnees into the domestic economy, and ensure that any outstanding tax obligations are addressed. Officials indicated that the data collected will inform policy measures designed to attract returning entrepreneurs, protect property rights, and mitigate potential disputes over ownership. The High Commission affirmed its commitment to supporting the diaspora’s contribution to Nigeria’s economic recovery as the documentation process progresses.