The Federal Government has commenced plans to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa following a renewed wave of anti-immigrant tensions and violence in the country.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday as authorities prepare to facilitate the return of affected citizens.
Speaking on Friday, the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the number of Nigerians expected to participate in the exercise could exceed 1,000.
“Total figure not out yet. We are expecting over 1,000 persons,” he said.
The repatriation effort comes shortly after Ghana evacuated hundreds of its nationals from South Africa in response to growing hostility towards foreign nationals.
In a communiqué issued on Tuesday, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria disclosed that it had secured waivers from South African authorities to allow Nigerians with immigration-related offences to depart on repatriation flights without being detained.
South Africa, Africa’s most industrialised economy, has traditionally attracted migrants from across the continent seeking employment opportunities. However, the country continues to grapple with an unemployment rate exceeding 30 per cent, a situation that has fuelled recurring xenophobic protests and attacks against foreign nationals.
Concerns have intensified following an ultimatum reportedly issued by a citizen-led group demanding the expulsion of undocumented migrants by June 30. The development has raised fears of further violence, recalling previous outbreaks of xenophobic unrest that resulted in numerous fatalities.
While the South African government has pledged to strengthen enforcement against undocumented immigration, it has also urged citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
According to South Africa’s national statistics agency, more than three million foreigners currently reside in the country, representing about 5.1 per cent of the population. Over 63 per cent of them originate from member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
