LAGOS, Nigeria — When the flight carrying hundreds of Nigerians fleeing South Africa touched down in Lagos last week, passenger Iniebong James felt an initial wave of relief that quickly turned to anxiety.
Nearly two weeks after his return, 52‑year‑old James is attempting to rebuild a life he left a decade ago. He originally came to South Africa on a six‑month visitor visa, overstayed, and worked as a car mechanic in the Eastern Cape despite lacking legal permission.
His situation deteriorated in May when anti‑immigrant protesters attacked him, leaving him with a head wound, he told The Associated Press.
The assault occurred amid a sharp rise in xenophobic sentiment in South Africa, with marches demanding that undocumented immigrants leave and reports of violence against foreign nationals.
Recent months have seen dozens of Nigerians and other African migrants repatriated from South Africa by their home governments due to safety concerns and escalating tensions.
South Africa has long attracted Africans, including many Nigerians, because of its relative wealth and opportunities, but periodic xenophobic outbreaks have plagued the nation. Some South Africans blame foreigners for unemployment, strained public services, and crime.
Before moving abroad, James was a truck driver for a Lagos haulage firm that closed in 2016 when Nigeria entered its first recession in two decades. Power outages and unemployment prompted his departure.
To survive with an expired visa in South Africa, James claims he had to bribe local police officers 200 rands ($12) weekly to keep his workshop open and paid immigration officials on two occasions after arrests. The AP could not verify these allegations.
James expressed gratitude for his “freedom” back home but warned that Nigeria’s economy has worsened, making job prospects bleak.
“I would submit my CV if anyone would take me, but I am still hoping the government will assist with employment,” he said.
When Nigeria announced a repatriation flight last month, James decided to return and try again. He was among the first Nigerians flown back from South Africa on June 11.
Over the past decade, Nigeria’s economy has deteriorated, prompting extensive reforms by President Bola Tinubu in 2023, including the removal of long‑standing fuel subsidies. This shift has triggered soaring inflation, further aggravated by the U.S.–Iran conflict, pushing fuel prices to nearly $1 per litre. When James left in 2016, fuel cost 85 naira per litre ($0.10); on his return day, it was 1,400 naira ($1.03).
“Everything is too expensive,” he noted.
The government pledged that returnees would receive “appropriate assistance and support before being reunited” with their families, though the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not comment on long‑term plans.
“Reparation is not transformation,” said Margaret Monyani, founder of Johannesburg‑based OLAM Africa Research Institute. “Returning is not always as straightforward as it sounds. People think they can simply go home and start again. But what is home?”
Another Nigerian migrant, Omotola Adeniyi, arrived in South Africa in 2015 with her mother. After completing high school, she struggled to find work, encountering persistent anti‑foreigner bias. She saved for a return ticket but found fares prohibitive, eventually accepting Nigeria’s repatriation offer. After eleven years abroad, she said home now feels foreign.
The recent protests have sparked diplomatic responses across the continent, with Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi and other nations repatriating hundreds of citizens and summoning South African diplomatic officials.
“The price of your peace and the safety of your children is worth any sacrifices you must make, whether assets or leaving a conflict zone,” Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu‑Ojukwu told James and other returnees via her representatives.
Despite attacks on foreigners, analysts note that South Africa remains an attractive destination for many African migrants because of its more advanced economy and infrastructure.
“It doesn’t mean South Africa has perfect institutions, but they function to a large extent,” Monyani added.
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