The Federal Government hasThe Federal Government has commenced plans to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerian nationals from South Africa as anti-immigrant tensions continue to escalate in the country.

The move follows a similar action by Ghana, which recently evacuated hundreds of its citizens in response to protests and violence targeting foreign nationals.

Nigeria’s voluntary repatriation programme began with a screening exercise on Thursday, according to the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa.

“Total figure not out yet,” Ebienfa told AFP on Friday. “We are expecting over 1,000 persons.”

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 through the repatriation programme rather than face detention.

South Africa, Africa’s most industrialised economy, has for decades attracted migrants from across the continent seeking employment and better economic opportunities.

However, the country’s unemployment rate, which remains above 30 per cent, has fuelled recurring waves of anti-immigrant sentiment and xenophobic attacks.

Recent protests and violence targeting foreign nationals have reignited concerns over the safety of migrants and renewed debate about migration, xenophobia and African unity.

Tensions have further intensified following an ultimatum reportedly issued by a citizen-led group demanding that undocumented migrants leave South Africa by June 30, raising fears of possible unrest similar to previous outbreaks of violence that claimed dozens of lives.

While the South African government has pledged to strengthen enforcement against undocumented migration, it has also urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands.

According to South Africa’s national statistics agency, more than three million foreigners reside in the country, representing about 5.1 per cent of the population.

The agency noted that over 63 per cent of the foreign population originates from countries within the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.