JANE OBIOMA—The Nigerian Federal Government has commenced plans to repatriate more than 1,000 of its citizens from South Africa as concerns grow over rising anti-immigrant sentiments and renewed xenophobic tensions in the southern African nation.
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday, with authorities actively preparing for a massive turnout.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa stated that while the final number of those seeking to return home has not yet been locked in, the final figure is expected to exceed 1,000 people.
This emergency evacuation follows a similar protective action by Ghana, which recently repatriated some 300 of its own nationals—the first batch of an expected 800 citizens—amid increasing fears over protests and targeted violence directed at foreign nationals.
To facilitate a smooth and safe exit, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria negotiated specialized immigration waivers with South African host authorities.
These waivers ensure that Nigerians with pending immigration-related offences can legally board the repatriation flights and return home safely rather than being detained at the border.
The latest wave of domestic tension stems from severe economic strain. South Africa, long a major economic hub drawing workers from across the continent, is currently saddled with an unemployment rate of over 30 per cent.
This economic stagnation has triggered repeated spurts of xenophobic protests, which flared up again in recent weeks.
The crisis has been sharply exacerbated by a looming ultimatum from a citizen-led group demanding that illegal migrants be expelled by June 30, raising widespread fears of imminent violence given South Africa’s history of anti-immigrant unrest that has previously claimed dozens of lives.
The unfolding situation has revived painful debates across Africa regarding regional migration and the widening gap between pan-African unity rhetoric and the volatile realities on the ground.
According to national statistics, there are more than three million foreigners currently living in South Africa, making up roughly 5.1 per cent of the total population. Over 63 per cent of these migrants come from neighboring member states within the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.
While the South African government has stated it is stepping up official law enforcement against undocumented immigration, it has repeatedly urged local citizens not to take matters into their own hands as West African nations move rapidly to secure their people.
