· Requires Immediate Coordinated, Trauma-Informed Support For Returnees
A new study from the Reintegrate Project, a five-year research initiative funded by the European Research Council (ERC), has revealed significant challenges in Nigeria’s reintegration system, which continues to fall short in supporting migrant returnees as they attempt to rebuild their lives.
The project, running from 2021 to 2026 and led by Dr. Katie Kuschminder and Dr. Sarah Adeyinka of the University of Amsterdam, is dedicated to understanding how reintegration is governed across different countries and how return migrants navigate their return journeys. Its findings in Nigeria paint a sobering picture of unmet needs and vulnerable groups left behind.
“Many returnee migrants arrive with nothing, to nothing - no home, no income, and no one to talk to about what they’ve been through,” said Dr. Adeyinka.
Significant gains have been made by the Nigerian government, particularly through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), in providing support to returnees over the past five years. Despite this support, reintegration in Nigeria is still heavily donor-driven and has its challenges.
The research revealed several critical findings regarding the reintegration experiences of returnees.
It was found that holistic support significantly improves outcomes, as returnees who received a combination of financial assistance, mental health support, and vocational training reported better reintegration experiences. In contrast, those who did not receive such support faced higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and poverty.
Additionally, the study highlighted that many survivors of human trafficking go unidentified upon their return, which prevents them from accessing specialised care and increases their risk of re-trafficking, exploitation, and gender-based violence.
Furthermore, the research indicated that mental health support is inadequate, with sixty-six percent of returnees reporting experiences of physical violence during migration and forty-five percent of female returnees identifying as survivors of sexual violence. Despite these alarming statistics, trauma-informed care remains scarce.
“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 Dr. Kuschminder.
In response to these findings, the Reintegrate Project is calling for urgent and coordinated reforms to ensure returnees are not left behind.
The research recommended enhanced reintegration programming, stronger collaboration among government, donors, and NGOs, improved identification and trauma-informed support, and expanded mental health services. It also emphasised the need for greater transparency and accountability in funding to address systemic inefficiencies in support services.
Grassroots organisations such as the Greater Returnee Foundation and MeCAHT are playing a critical role in bridging service gaps, offering trauma recovery, vocational training, and housing support. However, inconsistent funding and limited reach continue to constrain their impact.
“Return should begin the process of recovery, not a new cycle of suffering,” Dr. Adeyinka stressed. “So it requires a high level of priority, not only at the federal level, but at the state and local levels.”
As migration trends shift and more Nigerians return home, the Reintegrate Project warns that without immediate action, returnees may remain trapped in the same instability they once risked everything to escape, this time within their borders.
