Nigeria is planning to repatriate more than 1,000 of its nationals from South Africa as anti-immigrant tensions rise in the country, long a destination for documented and undocumented African workers.
The move by Abuja comes after Ghana recently repatriated hundreds of its citizens from South Africa in response to a wave of protests and violence targeting foreigners.
Screening for Nigeria’s voluntary repatriation scheme started Thursday, foreign ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa told AFP on Friday.
“Total figure not out yet,” he said. “We are expecting over a 1,000 persons.”
In a communique dated Tuesday, 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.
South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long attracted workers from across the region.
But saddled with an unemployment rate of over 30
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