Nigeria has asked South Africa to clarify its position on the removal of foreign nationals, as officials and migration experts said economic factors alone do not explain recent deportations.
Stakeholders raised the issue during a meeting of Nigeria’s Technical Working Group on Migration and Development on Tuesday. Many returnees reported living in South Africa for 10 to 15 years before returning to Nigeria.
Osita Osemene, Executive Director of the Patriotic Citizens Initiative (PCI), said interviews with returnees showed reasons beyond unemployment and resource pressure.
“The actions appear targeted,” Osemene said. “Many affected Nigerians spent 10 to 15 years in South Africa. Some are married to South African citizens. Others ran businesses that employed local workers before they were asked to leave.”
He gave the example of a Nigerian business owner who reportedly employed more than 25 South Africans but was still required to exit the country.
South African authorities have stated that immigration operations focus on undocumented migration and enforcement of existing laws. Officials cite domestic concerns over unemployment and pressure on public services.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, NCFRMI, said Nigeria is supporting returnees through a coordinated voluntary return programme.
Ambassador Catherine Odida, Director of Migrant Affairs at NCFRMI, said over 1,000 Nigerians are scheduled to return from South Africa in phases.
“What we are doing is ensuring safe return and proper reintegration,” Odida said. “Returnees receive support packages and transport assistance to their home communities. Government agencies also provide livelihood and psychosocial support.”
Odida added that about 1,600 Nigerians registered for the programme and dismissed reports that returnees were abandoned during the process. “As we speak, nobody has been abandoned,” she said.
The NCFRMI official noted that broader diplomatic matters related to the returns fall under Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Osemene said reintegration takes time. “They must accept their situation and plan how to restart their lives again,” he said.