FG to reintegrate Nigerians from South Africa with skills, counseling

The Nigerian government is implementing comprehensive measures to support citizens who have voluntarily returned from South Africa, aiming to ease their reintegration into society. Agencies like NEMA and the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) are leading efforts to provide livelihood support, skills acquisition programs, and crucial psychosocial and mental health counseling to address the trauma experienced.

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Federal government has made adequate arrangements for them through different agencies and ministries.

Ambassador Catherine Udida, Director of the Migration Affairs Department at NCFRMI, highlighted that over 1,000 returnees have been profiled and are receiving adequate care. These efforts are complemented by ongoing bilateral engagements between Nigeria and South Africa to guarantee the safety of Nigerians residing in the latter country. Air Peace recently completed its third evacuation mission, bringing home another 268 Nigerians.

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Currently, we have profiled more than 1,000 persons, and they have all been adequately catered to.

However, the returnees themselves share harrowing experiences, describing the loss of businesses valued at millions of Naira and the pervasive stigma of being labeled criminals. Babatunde Oladeji, who lived in South Africa for two decades, expressed that the issue goes beyond xenophobia, calling it 'Afrophobia' as Africans seem to be the primary targets. He recounted losing his security and cleaning company, worth over 1.5 million rand, which was hijacked and looted.

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There have been bilateral engagements between governments of Nigeria and South Africa. So far, there has been continuous engagement to ensure the safety of all Nigerians in South Africa.