130 Nigerians seek repatriation amid South Africa protests
Nigeria has opened a voluntary repatriation scheme for its citizens in South Africa, with at least 130 people already registered to fly home as anti-immigrant protests continue to rock the country’s major cities.
Foreign Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu announced the figures on Sunday, describing the 130 applicants as the first wave of a number expected to grow as fears mount over the safety of foreign nationals on the ground. The Nigerian government said it would be watching developments closely, particularly with further protests planned for May 4 and May 8.
The demonstrations, which drew crowds in both Pretoria and Johannesburg last week, centred on demands for tougher government action against illegal immigration. Protesters argued that undocumented foreigners were straining jobs, security and public services, claims that migrant rights campaigners say amount to scapegoating, pointing out that foreigners have long been blamed for South Africa’s deeper structural economic problems.
Nigeria has already summoned South Africa’s High Commissioner in Abuja over the situation, and its diplomatic missions within South Africa are said to be actively coordinating with local authorities to reduce risks to Nigerian nationals. South Africa, for its part, pledged last month to crack down on xenophobic attacks following complaints from Ghana and other African nations that their citizens had faced violence and discrimination.
The repatriation scheme represents Abuja’s most concrete response yet to a crisis that has steadily escalated, with the government making clear it will not wait for conditions to worsen before acting to protect its citizens abroad.
Source: Reuters
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