Amid fresh xenophobia fears, 65 Nigerians set to return from South Africa

By Ogundele Eniola

Another 65 Nigerians are scheduled to return home from South Africa today, as concerns over anti-foreigner attacks and discrimination continue to affect Nigerians and other African nationals living in the country.

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the returnees, whose repatriation is being sponsored by private individuals, are expected to depart Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg at 3:30 p.m. local time aboard South African Airways and arrive at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 8:45 p.m.

The latest group adds to a wider repatriation exercise involving Nigerians who have expressed concerns about their safety amid rising anti-migrant sentiment in parts of South Africa.

The Federal Government had previously facilitated the voluntary return of 1,490 Nigerians from South Africa following a wave of xenophobic attacks and anti-immigrant tensions.

The issue has become particularly sensitive because Nigeria and South Africa maintain one of Africa’s most important political and economic relationships, with substantial movement of people, businesses and investments between both countries.

For Nigerians living in South Africa, the issue goes beyond simply deciding whether to remain abroad or return home.

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Xenophobic violence can affect people’s ability to work, operate businesses and move freely without fear, while repeated attacks can create an environment where migrants feel increasingly unwelcome.

The situation also exposes the complicated reality of migration in Africa: people often leave their home countries in search of better economic opportunities, only to encounter discrimination or insecurity in their destination countries.

Earlier this year, more than 1,000 Nigerians registered interest in voluntary return from South Africa following attacks against foreign nationals, according to Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry.

The continuing repatriations could also place additional pressure on Nigeria-South Africa relations.

Both countries have historically maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties, but xenophobic attacks against Nigerians have repeatedly generated public anger in Nigeria.

For the returnees arriving today, however, diplomacy is secondary to something much more immediate: the need to feel safe.

Their return is another reminder that the fight against xenophobia is not only about migration policy. It is also about whether Africans can live, work and build businesses in other African countries without being targeted because of where they come from.

And as another 65 Nigerians make their way home, the question remains: what will it take for African migration to become an opportunity rather than a source of fear and hostility