From Doris Obinna
A study by the Reintegrate Project has revealed that Nigeria’s reintegration system is under significant pressure, leaving many returnees without the critical support needed to rebuild their lives.
While the Nigerian government has made notable policy progress, particularly through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), key gaps persist, especially in mental health care and support for victims of human trafficking.
The study, part of a five-year research initiative funded by the European Research Council and led by Dr. Katie Kuschminder and Dr. Sarah Adeyinka of the University of Amsterdam, highlights the harsh realities many returnees face upon arriving back in Nigeria. These include homelessness, unemployment, and the lasting effects of trauma.
“Many returning migrants arrive with nothing, to nothing; no home, no income, and no one to talk to about what they’ve been through,” said Adeyinka.
“The research finds that returnees who received a combination of financial aid, vocational training, and mental health care were more likely to experience successful reintegration. In contrast, those without support reported higher rates of poverty and instability.
“A major concern is the lack of proper identification of trafficking survivors, which often prevents them from accessing specialized care and increases their vulnerability to re-trafficking and gender-based violence.
“Alarmingly, 66 per cent of returnees reported experiencing physical violence during migration, and 45 percent of female returnees said they had survived sexual violence. Yet, trauma-informed mental health services remain rare.”
“While mental health tends to receive limited attention within reintegration programming, the lasting impact of trauma often plays a key role in obstructing returnees’ efforts to rebuild their lives,” said Kuschminder.
In response, the Reintegrate Project is calling for urgent reforms, including increased investment in reintegration programs, stronger collaboration between government, donors, and NGOs, improved support for trafficking survivors, expanded mental health services, and greater transparency in funding to combat inefficiencies.
Local organizations such as the Greater Returnee Foundation and MeCAHT are playing vital roles in bridging service gaps by offering trauma recovery programs, vocational training, and housing support. However, inconsistent funding and limited reach continue to hinder their impact.
Adeyinka emphasized: “Return should begin the process of recovery, not a new cycle of suffering. It requires urgent prioritization at federal, state, and local levels.”
As migration patterns shift and more Nigerians return home, the Reintegrate Project warns that without immediate, coordinated action, returnees may remain trapped in the same conditions they risked everything to escape, this time within their own borders.