No fewer than 1,695 Nigerians have been repatriated from South Africa this year amid growing concerns over xenophobic threats against foreigners.

The Acting High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Ajayi Alexander, disclosed this on Friday during a visit by fellows of the MTN Media Innovation Programme in Pretoria.

Alexander said 1,490 Nigerians returned through government-sponsored arrangements, while another 205 were repatriated with support from private individuals.

He explained that the Federal Government funded five repatriation flights, each carrying at least 200 Nigerians, while the mission also arranged additional batches of one-way tickets.

The evacuations were voluntary, with some Nigerians who registered to return eventually choosing not to travel.

According to Alexander, some returnees owned property in South Africa, while others were legal residents who became affected after delays in renewing their residence permits.

He said another evacuation was being prepared after the Redeemed Christian Church of God offered to sponsor the return of 500 Nigerians.

The envoy appealed to other religious organisations and private individuals to support further evacuations, stressing that the mission’s priority was to protect Nigerians from possible violence.

The development follows fresh threats from anti-immigrant groups in South Africa, who have reportedly given foreigners until the end of September to leave.

Alexander said Nigeria was taking the threats seriously, while noting that relations between Nigeria and South Africa remained strong at the highest levels of government.

Nigeria and South Africa have also been discussing measures to prevent attacks on Nigerians, including early-warning mechanisms, prosecution of offenders and possible compensation for Nigerians whose properties were damaged or abandoned during previous attacks.