FG Promises Reintegration Support as 268 Nigerians Return from South Africa

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigerians who voluntarily returned from South Africa by providing livelihood assistance, skills acquisition programmes, psychosocial support, and mental health counselling to help them recover from the trauma they experienced abroad.
The government also disclosed that more than 1,000 returnees have been profiled and are receiving support through relevant agencies. It added that continuous bilateral engagements between Nigeria and South Africa are ongoing to ensure the safety and welfare of Nigerians residing in the Southern African country.
The Director of the Migration Affairs Department at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Ambassador Catherine Udida, made the disclosure on Friday as Air Peace completed its third evacuation mission from South Africa.
The latest evacuation brought home 268 Nigerians, who arrived at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.
Udida explained that several government agencies have been mobilised to ensure the smooth reintegration of the returnees.
According to her, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the NCFRMI all have clearly defined responsibilities in the exercise.
She said NEMA is responsible for transporting the returnees to their respective states or nearby destinations, while the NCFRMI is coordinating long-term reintegration efforts.
She noted that the government would provide livelihood support, vocational training, skills acquisition programmes, and psychosocial and mental health counselling to help the returnees rebuild their lives after the traumatic experiences they endured.
Udida added that over 1,000 Nigerians who have returned from South Africa have already been profiled and are being adequately supported under the government’s reintegration programme.
She further disclosed that Nigeria and South Africa have maintained regular diplomatic engagements aimed at addressing the welfare and security concerns of Nigerians living in South Africa.
Some of the returnees, however, recounted painful experiences of xenophobia, discrimination, financial losses, and difficulties accessing legal documentation while living in South Africa.
One of the returnees, Babatunde Oladeji, said he lived in South Africa for 20 years but lost everything he had built due to persistent hostility against African migrants.
He explained that he owned a security and cleaning company before it was allegedly hijacked, resulting in losses exceeding 1.5 million rand. He also claimed his personal information was used for fraudulent activities, leaving him impoverished.
Oladeji said many Nigerians are unfairly stereotyped as criminals regardless of their legal status, adding that he now faces the challenge of rebuilding his life from scratch after returning to Nigeria with his family.
Another returnee, Fola Kester, who said he had lived in South Africa since the age of four, narrated how administrative delays prevented him from obtaining legal documentation.
According to him, an earlier application for residency documents was lost, making it impossible to submit another application. Despite efforts by his family, legal representatives, and repeated attempts to contact the country’s Department of Home Affairs, no resolution was reached.
He said the lack of proper documentation prevented him from continuing his university education after completing his first year and severely limited his access to opportunities, eventually forcing him to return to Nigeria.
Kester noted that although he did not personally experience xenophobic attacks, he was aware of several incidents involving foreign nationals.
Another returnee from Anambra State alleged that Nigerians often face hostility in South Africa simply because of their nationality.
He claimed that anti-foreigner sentiments tend to intensify during election periods and urged Nigerians to carefully consider the challenges associated with relocating to South Africa.