04/07/2026
Xenophobia and the Fate of Returnees: Nigeria and Affected Nigerians in My Thoughts
The recent wave of xenophobic attacks against other Africans living in South Africa is deeply disturbing. Such violence undermines the spirit of African unity and solidarity and has serious consequences not only for the victims but also for their countries of origin.
Thousands of Nigerians have been affected by these attacks. For many of them, returning home may not be the end of their hardship but the beginning of another difficult journey. Reintegrating into today's Nigeria, where unemployment remains high and many communities face inadequate infrastructure and limited social services, may prove extremely challenging. Some returnees may have to start their lives all over again after losing their businesses, jobs, savings, and personal belongings in South Africa.
It is encouraging to see government agencies, civil society organizations, and compassionate individuals stepping forward to support the affected returnees through financial assistance and other forms of humanitarian support. These efforts will help cushion the immediate impact of their return, but long-term reintegration requires much more than emergency relief.
Many South Africans who support the attacks often claim that foreign nationals are taking their jobs, engaging in criminal activities, and competing for limited economic opportunities. While every country has the right to address crime and regulate migration, collective punishment and violence against innocent migrants can never be justified. Criminal acts should be addressed through the rule of law, not through xenophobic attacks targeting entire nationalities.
As an organization Initiatives for Safe Migration and Social Justice committed to promoting safe migration and supporting the sustainable reintegration of returnees, I believe the Nigerian government should establish a comprehensive national database of all affected returnees. Such a database would help identify their skills, educational backgrounds, employment histories, and immediate needs, making it easier to provide targeted assistance.
Beyond creating a database, the government should work with development partners, the private sector, and civil society organizations to provide psychosocial support, vocational training, entrepreneurship grants, job placement opportunities, and access to financial services. These measures would reduce the risk of poverty, social exclusion, irregular migration, and criminality while enabling returnees to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to national development.
Xenophobia has no place in Africa. The continent's future depends on cooperation, mutual respect, and the protection of the dignity and rights of every African, regardless of where they choose to live or work.
Writes by Oluwaseyi Olawuyi Prince
The CEO.