LAGOS — Hundreds of Nigerian migrants were repatriated from South Africa to Lagos in June 2026, following anti-migrant protests and attacks on foreign nationals. The government announced support for its returning nationals after the repatriations began.

Iniebong James, one of the returnees, arrived in Lagos after sustaining a head wound during an attack by anti-immigrant protesters in May. James had departed the country for South Africa in 2016 on a six-month visitor's visa and subsequently overstayed. He worked as a car mechanic in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, and previously worked as a truck driver for a Lagos logistics company that closed in 2016. Extended power outages in the country also influenced his decision to move. James stated he paid community police officers 200 rands weekly to operate his shop without legal residency and paid immigration officials twice following arrests in South Africa. The government's first repatriation flight group arrived on June 11.

South African residents have organized marches calling for undocumented immigrants to leave, attributing unemployment, poverty, public service strain, and crime to foreign nationals. Multiple African governments, including the country, Ghana, and Malawi, repatriated citizens from South Africa and summoned South African diplomats over the protests. Omotola Adeniyi, who relocated to South Africa in 2015 at age eight, completed secondary education there but could not secure employment or attend university. "After I finished high school, that’s when I saw real life because everywhere I looked for a job, all I could get was, ‘No, we don’t want to employ foreigners,’" Adeniyi said. She accepted a government-funded return ticket because commercial airline fares were unaffordable.

The government stated returnees will receive support prior to family reunification. "I would submit my CV if anybody can accept me, but I am still hoping for the government to help me (with a job)," James said. He noted, "Everything is too expensive." The country entered an economic recession in 2016, and fuel prices there increased from 85 naira per liter in 2016 to 1,400 naira per liter in June 2026.

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, addressed citizens considering repatriation. "The price of your peace, and the safety of your children, is worth any sacrifices you have to make, or any assets you have to leave behind when fleeing a conflict zone or hate-infested environment. Survival is the noblest form of vengeance," Odumegwu-Ojukwu said.