Xenophobia: Nigerian govt to repatriate willing citizens from South Africa

The Federal government has announced that it is preparing to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerian citizens currently in South Africa, following a rise in xenophobic attacks.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the move on Friday through a statement by spokesperson Kimiebi Ebienfa.

According to Ebienfa, the screening process for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday, with authorities anticipating that over 1,000 Nigerians will participate.

He added that the exact number of people wishing to return had not yet been finalized, but the figure was expected to exceed 1,000.

"The total figure is not out yet. But we are expecting over 1,000 people," he said.

Daily Post reports that the decision follows a similar action by Ghana, which recently repatriated hundreds of its nationals from South Africa amid growing concerns over protests and violence targeting foreign residents.

South Africa, once the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long drawn workers from across Africa.

However, with an unemployment rate of more than 30 percent, the country has experienced repeated waves of xenophobic protests, including renewed violence in recent weeks.

The current tensions have reignited uncomfortable discussions across Africa about xenophobia, migration, and the disconnect between pan‑African rhetoric and the realities of migration on the continent.