The Federal Government is set to repatriate more than 1,000 Nigerians from South Africa following a screening exercise conducted for citizens seeking voluntary return.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, NiDCOM, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, disclosed this in Abuja on Saturday.

According to her, the screening exercise is being jointly conducted by the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria and South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs.

Dabiri-Erewa said the exercise entered its third day on Saturday, with a large turnout of Nigerians seeking to participate in the voluntary evacuation programme.

She noted that the process has been orderly and professionally managed under the supervision of Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Olatunde Ajayi.

The NiDCOM boss said more than 1,000 Nigerians had already registered for the evacuation, adding that registration was still ongoing.

She further disclosed that flights for the repatriation are expected to commence next week through Air Peace after President Bola Tinubu approved funds for the exercise.

According to her, five flights have been scheduled for the operation, with the first batch of evacuees expected to arrive in Nigeria next week.

The planned repatriation comes amid growing safety concerns among foreign nationals following recent anti-immigrant protests in parts of South Africa. (NAN)