Nigeria is planning to repatriate more than 1,000 of its nationals from South Africa as anti-immigrant tensions rise in the country which has been a destination for documented and undocumented African workers.

The move by Abuja comes after Ghana recently repatriated hundreds of its citizens from South Africa in response to a wave of protests and violence targeting foreigners.

In a communique, Nigeria’s High Commission in Pretoria said it had negotiated waivers with host authorities so that those with immigration-related offences would be allowed to leave on the eventual repatriation flights rather than be detained.

South Africa, the continent’s most industrialized economy, has long attracted workers from across the region, however, saddled with an unemployment rate of over 30 per cent, it has seen repeated spurts of xenophobic protests including renewed violence in recent weeks.

An ultimatum by one citizen-led group for illegal migrants to be expelled by June 30 has raised fears of violence after bouts of anti-immigrant unrest in the past that claimed dozens of lives.

The South African government stated it is stepping up enforcement against undocumented immigrants and urged citizens not to take matters into their own hands.

According to the statistics agency, there are more than three million foreigners living in South Africa with more than 63 per cent from countries in the 16-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) bloc.