Nigeria has begun screening more than one thousand of its citizens in South Africa ahead of repatriation flights, as the fallout from a recent surge in xenophobic attacks continues to ripple across West Africa.
Foreign ministry spokesman Kimiebi Ebienfa told AFP that the screening exercise began Thursday, with final numbers expected once the process concludes.
Nigeria's high commission in Pretoria said it had negotiated waivers with South African authorities to allow nationals with immigration-related offences to board repatriation flights rather than face detention.
The screening is being conducted jointly by officials from both countries' foreign ministries, alongside South African immigration and police officers, and was expected to wrap up by Saturday, after which flight logistics and final passenger numbers would be confirmed.
Nigeria is not alone. Ghana repatriated nearly 300 of its citizens from South Africa two weeks ago, the first batch of close to 800 people who registered for evacuation.
Ebienfa noted that Nigeria submitted its list for clearance before Ghana but was deprioritised, with Ethiopia set to follow Nigeria once screening is complete.
Nigerians, Ghanaians, and Mozambicans were among the most targeted foreign nationals in the renewed attacks, which left at least two Nigerians dead, according to the Nigerian consulate in Johannesburg.
A South African citizen-led group has issued an ultimatum demanding the expulsion of undocumented migrants from the country by June 30.
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