South Africa Returnees Battle Stigma, Count Losses
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the successful reintegration of Nigerians voluntarily returning from South Africa, pledging livelihood support, vocational training, psychosocial care and mental health counselling to help them rebuild their lives after experiencing trauma abroad.
The assurance came as Air Peace completed the third phase of the government's evacuation exercise on Friday, bringing another 268 Nigerians home from South Africa. The returnees arrived at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, where they were received by officials of relevant government agencies.
Speaking at the airport, the Director of the Migration Affairs Department at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Ambassador Catherine Udida, said more than 1,000 returnees had already been profiled under the ongoing programme.
She said the Federal Government, through agencies including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the NCFRMI, had established a coordinated framework to support the returnees.
According to her, NEMA is responsible for transporting the returnees to their various states or destinations, while the NCFRMI, as the lead agency, will provide long-term reintegration programmes, including livelihood support, skills acquisition, vocational training and psychosocial counselling.
Ambassador Udida also disclosed that the Nigerian and South African governments have continued bilateral engagements aimed at ensuring the safety and protection of Nigerians still residing in South Africa.
Meanwhile, several returnees narrated the hardship, discrimination and financial losses they suffered before deciding to return home.
One of the returnees, Mr. Babatunde Oladeji, who said he lived in South Africa for about 20 years, described the experience as devastating, alleging that many African migrants faced persistent discrimination.
"I lived in South Africa for two decades. Every foreign national experiences xenophobia. If it is not traumatising, it leaves you with nothing. Many people have lost their homes, properties and everything they worked for. I don't think it is xenophobia; it is Afrophobia. They only have problems with African migrants."
Oladeji said he lost his security and cleaning business valued at more than 1.5 million rand after it was allegedly hijacked, adding that his personal details were later used for fraudulent activities.
"I lost my business. I lost everything. I ran a security and cleaning company, which was hijacked. I lost more than 1.5 million rand. They looted me and used my details for fraudulent purposes. At the end of the day, I found myself living in poverty."
He also lamented what he described as the widespread stereotyping of Nigerians in South Africa.
"The perception they have of Nigerians is terrible; they see every Nigerian as a criminal. I was not an illegal immigrant, but we were all painted with the same brush. I don't know where I will go with my family now that I am back. I have to start all over again."
Another returnee, Mr. Fola Kester, said he had lived in South Africa since childhood but was unable to regularise his immigration status after his application documents were reportedly lost within the country's administrative system.
According to him, repeated attempts to resolve the issue through legal channels and official correspondence yielded no results, forcing him to abandon his education and return to Nigeria.
"I have been in South Africa since I was four. I'm now 21. I haven't been able to get my papers. I made an initial application, but it was lost in the system."
He added that although he was not directly affected by xenophobic attacks, the lack of legal documentation prevented him from continuing his studies and living a normal life.
Also speaking, Obi, a returnee from Anambra State, urged Nigerians to carefully consider the realities of living in South Africa.
"Once you mention that you are Nigerian, they immediately develop hatred towards you. This isn't the first time. It is political because whenever elections are around the corner, they do this."
The Federal Government says the evacuation exercise remains voluntary and forms part of broader efforts to protect the welfare of Nigerians abroad while supporting those who choose to return home through structured reintegration programmes.
Source: Vanguard News
Tags: #SouthAfricaReturnees #FederalGovernment #Migration
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