The Nigerian government might demand a R5m (N84m) compensation from the government of South Africa over xenophobic attacks carried on Nigerians in the south african country, local reports say.

This follows beliefs that the diplomatic spat between the two countries had ended and they considered the matter closed.    

According to South African online news media, City Press, national president of the Nigerian Union SA (Nusa) Ike Anyene said the compensation matter would be raised at the next meeting of the SA-Nigeria Binational Commission, which is periodically convened by the deputy presidents of the two countries. The last meeting appeared to have been in 2012 and the date for the next meeting remains unknown.

“What our government wants to do is request from the South African government to compensate what the Nigerians lost. Some of these shops that were looted were not insured and cannot claim from insurance,” Anyene said.