The Federal Government is set 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.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa confirmed that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began yesterday with over 1,000 Nigerians expected to participate.
The move follows a similar action by Ghana, which recently repatriated hundreds of its nationals from South Africa amid increasing fears over protests and violence directed at foreign nationals.
Earlier, Nigeria’s High Commission In Pretoria said it had negotiated waivers with host authorities so that those with immigration-related offences would be allowed to leave on the eventual repatriation flights rather than be detained.
