By Ayomide Otitoju
The Federal Government has commenced plans to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa amid growing concerns over renewed xenophobic tensions and anti-immigrant sentiment in the country.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday, with officials expecting the number of returnees to exceed 1,000.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the final tally of those willing to return had yet to be confirmed but indicated that participation is expected to be significant.
The move follows similar actions by Ghana, which recently repatriated hundreds of its nationals from South Africa amid fears of escalating violence targeting foreign nationals.
In a statement issued earlier in the week, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria said it had secured waivers from South African authorities to ensure that Nigerians with immigration-related offences would be allowed to depart voluntarily rather than face detention.
South Africa, Africa’s most industrialised economy until recently, continues to attract migrant workers from across the continent but has struggled with unemployment rates exceeding 30 per cent, fuelling periodic outbreaks of xenophobic violence.
Recent tensions have revived continental concerns over migration and xenophobia, with reports of renewed protests and an ultimatum issued by a citizen-led group demanding the removal of undocumented migrants by June 30.
The South African government has intensified enforcement against illegal immigration but has urged citizens to avoid vigilante actions.
According to official data, more than three million foreigners reside in South Africa, accounting for about 5.1 per cent of the population, with the majority coming from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries.
