The Federal Government says it is preparing to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerian nationals from South Africa as concerns grow over renewed anti-immigrant sentiment and sporadic violence targeting foreign residents in the country.

The planned exercise follows similar actions by other African countries, including Ghana, which recently facilitated the return of hundreds of its citizens from South Africa in response to protests and attacks against foreign nationals.

A spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, confirmed on Friday that screening for a voluntary repatriation programme began on Thursday. He said the final figure had not been determined but estimated that “over 1,000 persons” were expected to be affected.

According to a communiqué issued Tuesday by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, arrangements have been made with South African authorities to grant waivers for individuals with immigration-related offences, allowing them to depart voluntarily on repatriation flights rather than face detention.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialised economy, has long been a major destination for migrants from across Africa. However, persistent economic challenges, including an unemployment rate exceeding 30 percent, have fuelled periodic outbreaks of xenophobic protests.

Recent weeks have seen renewed tensions, including threats issued by a citizen-led group calling for the removal of undocumented migrants by June 30, raising concerns of possible violence. Authorities in South Africa have since reiterated their commitment to enforcing immigration laws while urging residents not to take the law into their own hands.

According to official statistics, more than three million foreign nationals live in South Africa, representing about 5.1 percent of the population. Over 63 percent of these migrants originate from member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).