Nigeria to Repatriate Over 1,000 Citizens from South Africa Amid Xenophobic Attacks

(Kimiebi Ebienfa. Photo by Linkedin Nigeria)

The Federal Government has announced plans to repatriate over 1,000 Nigerian citizens from South Africa following a surge in xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals in the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the development in a statement by its spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa, disclosing that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday.

While the final number of participants is yet to be determined, authorities expect more than 1,000 Nigerians to take part in the exercise.

The move follows a similar action by Ghana, which recently repatriated hundreds of its own nationals from South Africa amid growing fears over anti-foreigner protests and violence.

South Africa, long regarded as one of Africa’s most industrialized economies, has historically attracted workers from across the continent.

However, with an unemployment rate exceeding 30 per cent, the country has repeatedly experienced outbursts of xenophobic violence, with renewed tensions emerging in recent weeks.

The latest wave of unrest has reignited broader conversations across Africa about xenophobia, migration, and the widening gap between the continent’s pan-African ideals and the harsh realities faced by migrants on the ground.