More than 1,000 Nigerians to be repatriated from South Africa.- FG

 As anti-immigrant emotions increase in South Africa, which has long been a destination for both documented and undocumented African labor, Nigeria is preparing to repatriate over 1,000 of its citizens.

Abuja's action follows Ghana's recent repatriation of hundreds of its residents from South Africa in reaction to a wave of anti-foreign rallies and violence.

Kimiebi Ebienfa, a spokesperson for the foreign ministry, told AFP on Friday that screening for Nigeria's voluntary repatriation program began on Thursday.

Nigeria's High Commission in Pretoria said in a statement on Tuesday that it had "negotiated waivers with host authorities" so that people with "immigration related offences" would not be detained but may depart on the final repatriation planes.

Workers from all across the region have long been drawn to South Africa, which has the most industrialized economy on the continent.

However, it has experienced frequent outbursts of xenophobic rallies, including a resurgence of violence in recent weeks, due to its unemployment rate of more than thirty percent.

Uncomfortable discussions concerning xenophobia, migration, and the discrepancy between pan-African rhetoric and the realities of migration on the continent have resurfaced throughout Africa as a result of the recent tensions.

The South African government has warned people not to take matters into their own hands, but it has stated that it is increasing action against unauthorized immigrants.

The statistics agency reports that over three million foreigners, or 5.1% of the population, reside in South Africa.

More than 63 percent come from countries in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.