The development comes amid mounting anxiety among migrant communities in South Africa, where anti-foreigner protests and hostilities have intensified in recent weeks.
The Nigerian government has begun arrangements to evacuate citizens willing to return from South Africa following a fresh wave of anti-immigrant hostility that has forced hundreds of foreign nationals from their homes and raised fears of renewed xenophobic violence.
Authorities confirmed that the registration and screening process for a voluntary repatriation programme commenced on Thursday, with officials anticipating that more than 1000 Nigerians could take advantage of the initiative.
Speaking on Friday, the Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, said the exact number of Nigerians seeking to return had yet to be finalised but noted that the figure was expected to surpass 1000.
“Total figure not out yet. We are expecting over 1,000 persons,” Ebienfa reportedly told AFP.
