The federal government has disclosed plans to provide psychosocial support, skills development and livelihood assistance to Nigerians repatriated from South Africa.
The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) announced the plans on Wednesday after receiving the latest batch of 305 Nigerians.
The latest batch brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated from South Africa to 1,485 since the exercise commenced on June 11, 2026.
Speaking during the reception, the Federal Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of NCFRMI, Tijani Ahmed, stated that the government’s intervention would extend beyond facilitating the safe return of the affected Nigerians to ensuring their successful recovery and reintegration into society.
Represented by the Director of Migrants Affairs, Ambassador Catherine Udida, Ahmed said the Commission would begin engaging the returnees in batches over the coming days to provide mental health and psychosocial support and conduct detailed assessments of their individual needs.
He explained that many of the returnees had undergone prolonged and often difficult migration experiences, making counselling, profiling and comprehensive needs assessments essential to designing sustainable reintegration plans.
According to him, the exercise will enable the Commission and its partners to identify the returnees’ vulnerabilities, existing skills, family circumstances and livelihood needs before linking them with appropriate government programmes and support services.
He said: “The Federal Government is committed not only to ensuring the safe and dignified return of Nigerians but also to supporting them as they rebuild their lives and reintegrate into their families and communities”.
He added that after the psychosocial support and assessment process, eligible returnees would be enrolled in relevant NCFRMI programmes and referred to sister agencies and institutions responsible for skills acquisition, employment, entrepreneurship and livelihood support.
He noted that the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) are part of the key government partners that would provide vocational training, business development services, entrepreneurship support and employability programmes.
The Federal Commissioner said the reintegration programme would be implemented in phases to ensure interventions are properly coordinated, targeted and tailored to the needs and capacities of each beneficiary.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to collaborating with Ministries, Departments and Agencies, state governments, international organisations, civil society groups, development partners and the private sector to strengthen the reintegration process and reduce the risk of further vulnerability or unsafe remigration.
Ahmed also commended the agencies and stakeholders that have supported the reception exercise since it began, particularly those involved in immigration clearance, emergency assistance, airport facilitation, profiling, documentation and onward transportation of the returnees.
He assured the returnees that the Federal Government remained committed to protecting their dignity and supporting their successful social and economic reintegration into Nigerian society.
