More than 1,000 Nigerians residing in South Africa have applied for voluntary repatriation, a decision driven by escalating xenophobic attacks and a growing anti-immigrant sentiment within Africa's most industrialized economy. This surge in applications highlights renewed concerns over the safety of foreign nationals. Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that 1,094 Nigerians have registered to return home under a government-assisted repatriation programme, a significant increase from the 130 applicants initially registered a month prior when the scheme was introduced.

Nigerian and South African authorities are jointly conducting a verification exercise to determine the eligibility of applicants before finalising evacuation arrangements. Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that this screening process ensures that only qualified applicants benefit from the programme. South African authorities have also agreed to waive certain immigration-related penalties for those approved for repatriation, facilitating a smoother process for the returnees.

The current wave of applications is a direct response to renewed anti-foreigner protests and violent attacks across South Africa, which have resulted in deaths and forced hundreds of foreign nationals to flee their homes. Incidents, such as those reported in Mossel Bay, have allegedly led to several fatalities and destruction of property, impacting migrants from various neighbouring countries. These events vividly recall past xenophobic outbreaks that strained diplomatic ties between Pretoria and several African nations, including Nigeria.

South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has publicly condemned the attacks and pledged enhanced protection for foreign nationals. He also announced plans to engage African partners to address migration tensions. Despite these official assurances, critics argue that the repeated cycles of violence and perceived weak enforcement by authorities have failed to prevent recurring xenophobic incidents. Diplomatic tensions between Nigeria and South Africa have previously flared over similar attacks, notably leading to mass evacuations of Nigerians in 2019.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is now moving forward with arrangements to deploy aircraft for the evacuation of its citizens. A joint screening and verification exercise, which commenced on a Thursday and concluded by the end of the week, was carried out by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), the South African Police Service, and immigration authorities. This process was designed to confirm the identities, immigration status, and travel documents of prospective returnees to ensure an orderly and efficient evacuation.

Ebienfa clarified that upon the completion of this screening, a definitive number of cleared individuals would be available, allowing the government to finalize details regarding aircraft deployment. Officials from aviation and diplomatic sectors will then determine the number of aircraft needed, establish flight schedules, and arrange reception protocols for the returnees upon their arrival in Nigeria. The Nigerian Federal Government has also reassured affected citizens of its close collaboration with South African authorities to guarantee their safety until evacuation.

Analysts warn that the current repatriation requests could have significant economic and diplomatic repercussions, considering the substantial contribution many Nigerians make to South Africa’s labour force and economy. Nevertheless, for many families caught in the turmoil, immediate safety remains the paramount concern as voluntary evacuation efforts proceed. This unfolding situation underscores the persistent challenges of xenophobia in South Africa and the increasing insecurity experienced by African migrants in the country, marking one of the largest recent voluntary repatriation exercises involving Nigerians from South Africa.