The Nigerian High Commission has opened a voluntary return portal for citizens in South Africa while seeking sponsors for a possible second repatriation exercise following renewed xenophobic attacks.

The Nigerian High Commission in South Africa has opened an online registration portal for Nigerians seeking voluntary return home, as preparations begin for a possible second repatriation exercise following recent xenophobic attacks.

The registration exercise, announced in a memo issued on Tuesday, will run until August 12, although the mission stressed that completing the online form does not automatically guarantee a seat on a repatriation flight.

The initiative comes weeks after the Federal Government repatriated 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa in seven batches following xenophobic violence targeting foreign nationals.

According to the High Commission, the portal is intended to identify Nigerians who still wish to return home after the initial evacuation exercise concluded.

High Commission seeks partners to fund return flights

Speaking on Wednesday, Alexander Ajayi, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, said the mission is compiling the data while seeking organisations and partners willing to sponsor return tickets for those who register.

“We are now at a crucial stage of mounting a whole-of-society approach to getting the remnants back home,” Ajayi said.

He explained that more Nigerians had expressed interest in returning after the first evacuation exercise ended, prompting the mission to reopen registration.

The latest move comes amid renewed reports of attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Following the previous repatriation exercise, the Nigerian Consulate-General in Johannesburg confirmed the death of a Nigerian citizen during a police operation in Cape Town, while another Nigerian was reportedly shot and seriously injured.

The Federal Government has repeatedly condemned the attacks, describing South Africa’s response as inadequate and calling for stronger measures to protect Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.

Nigeria pushes Afrophobia debate at AU

Nigeria has continued diplomatic engagements with South Africa over the recurring attacks while advocating broader continental action.

Alongside Ghana, Nigeria has called for Afrophobia to be placed on the agenda of the next African Union (AU) summit, arguing that recurring violence against African migrants threatens regional integration and the ideals of African solidarity.