The Nigerian Government has commenced plans to repatriate more than 1,000 of its citizens from South Africa as growing anti-immigrant sentiments and violence continue to raise concerns for foreign nationals living in the country.
The move follows similar action by Ghana, which recently evacuated hundreds of its citizens from South Africa in response to renewed protests and attacks targeting migrants.
Speaking on Friday to AFP, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed that screening for the voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday.
According to him, the final number of Nigerians opting for the exercise is yet to be determined, but authorities expect it to exceed 1,000.
“Total figure not out yet. We are expecting over a 1,000 persons,” Ebienfa said.
In a communiqué issued on Tuesday, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria disclosed that it had secured waivers from South African authorities to facilitate the departure of Nigerians with immigration-related offences. The arrangement will allow affected individuals to return home through the repatriation programme instead of facing detention.
South Africa, regarded as Africa’s most industrialised economy, has for decades attracted migrant workers from across the continent, including both documented and undocumented migrants seeking better economic opportunities.
However, the country’s unemployment rate, which remains above 30 per cent, has fuelled recurring outbreaks of xenophobic protests and anti-immigrant violence. In recent weeks, tensions have escalated once again, sparking fears of further unrest.
The latest developments have reignited discussions across Africa about migration, xenophobia and the challenges facing the continent’s integration agenda despite longstanding pan-African commitments.
Concerns have also grown following an ultimatum issued by a citizen-led group demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by June 30. The threat has heightened fears of possible violence, recalling previous episodes of xenophobic attacks that resulted in dozens of deaths.
While the South African government has intensified efforts to enforce immigration laws and crack down on undocumented migrants, authorities have urged citizens to refrain from taking the law into their own hands.
Official statistics indicate that more than three million foreign nationals currently reside in South Africa, representing about 5.1 per cent of the country’s population. Of that number, over 63 per cent originate from member states of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC).
