For 52-year-old Iniebong James, arriving back in Lagos brought an immediate sense of relief after fleeing growing hostility toward foreign nationals in South Africa. That feeling quickly gave way to uncertainty as he began adjusting to life in a country he had left a decade earlier in search of better opportunities.

James was among the Nigerians repatriated from South Africa this month after violence and anti-migrant demonstrations intensified. He told The Associated Press that he had lived and worked as a car mechanic in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province after overstaying a visitor visa. According to James, he decided to return after being injured during an attack by anti-immigrant protesters in May.

His experience reflects a broader challenge facing many returnees who are now attempting to rebuild their lives in an economy struggling with inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs.

Migration Driven by Economic Pressures

Before leaving Nigeria, James worked as a truck driver in Lagos. He said the closure of his employer during Nigeria’s 2016 economic downturn left him searching for alternatives.

In addition to concerns about employment, he cited frequent electricity outages as a major factor in his decision to relocate to South Africa, a destination long viewed by many Africans as offering stronger economic prospects and better infrastructure.

South Africa has historically attracted migrants from across the continent because of its comparatively advanced economy. However, the country has also experienced recurring outbreaks of xenophobic violence, with some South Africans blaming foreign nationals for unemployment, pressure on public services, and criminal activity.

Recent demonstrations calling for undocumented migrants to leave the country have fueled concerns among foreign communities and prompted several African governments to organize repatriation efforts for their citizens.

James said he is grateful to have returned safely but worries about finding employment in a country facing significant economic challenges.

“I would submit my CV if anybody can accept me, but I am still hoping for the government to help me with a job,” he said.

Returnees Confront Rising Costs

The economic landscape awaiting many returnees differs sharply from the one they left behind.

Since President Bola Tinubu introduced major economic reforms in 2023, including the removal of long-standing fuel subsidies and currency policy changes, Nigerians have faced rising prices across many sectors.

Inflation has increased significantly, placing additional pressure on households already struggling with high living costs. According to returnees, everyday expenses now consume a much larger share of income than they did a decade ago.

James pointed to fuel prices as an example of the dramatic change. When he left Nigeria in 2016, fuel cost around 85 naira per liter. Upon his return, he found prices had risen to approximately 1,400 naira per liter.

“Everything is too expensive,” he said.

The Nigerian government has stated that returning citizens will receive assistance and support before reuniting with their families. However, officials have not publicly detailed long-term reintegration plans for repatriated migrants.

Starting Over After Years Abroad

Migration experts say returning home after many years abroad can be more complex than commonly assumed.

Margaret Monyani, founder of the Johannesburg-based OLAM Africa Research Institute, said reintegration often involves social, economic, and emotional challenges.

“Returning is not always as straightforward as it sounds,” Monyani said. “People just think, go back home and start again. No, what is home?”

That challenge is particularly evident for younger migrants who spent formative years outside Nigeria.

Omotola Adeniyi returned to Nigeria after living in South Africa for more than a decade. She moved there as a child in 2015 and completed her secondary education in the country.

After graduating, however, she struggled to find employment and said many employers rejected her because she was a foreign national.

Unable to afford a return ticket on her own, Adeniyi accepted assistance from Nigeria’s repatriation program. Yet after spending 11 years abroad, she said adjusting to life in Nigeria feels unfamiliar.

Regional Concerns Over Anti-Migrant Sentiment

The recent wave of anti-immigrant protests has drawn reactions from governments across Africa.

Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, and other countries that repatriated citizens from South Africa have publicly expressed concern about the treatment of foreign nationals. Nigerian and Ghanaian authorities also summoned South African diplomatic representatives following the unrest.

In a statement delivered to returning migrants, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized the importance of safety over material losses.

She told returnees that protecting themselves and their families was worth any sacrifice required when escaping violence or hostility.

Despite recurring tensions, analysts note that South Africa continues to attract migrants because of economic opportunities that remain limited in many parts of the continent.

Monyani said that while South Africa faces significant social and economic challenges of its own, many of its institutions continue to function more effectively than those in several neighboring countries.

For many migrants, that reality means the difficult choices that prompted them to leave home in the first place remain largely unresolved.

Tags: Nigeria, South Africa, Migration, Repatriation, Bola Tinubu, Xenophobia, Economy, African Migrants

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Archaeologists Identify 1,900-Year-Old Roman Artifact in Louisiana Home

A New Orleans family made a remarkable discovery while clearing their overgrown backyard — a 1,900-year-old Roman marble gravestone believed to have been missing from an Italian museum for decades. The tablet, engraved with Latin inscriptions including the phrase “spirits of the dead,” has since been identified as the ancient grave marker of Sextus Congenius Verus, a sailor who served in the Roman imperial navy.

The Unusual Find That Sparked Archaeological Investigation

Anthropologist Daniella Santoro of Tulane University said the family was initially startled by the Latin inscription. “The fact that it was in Latin really just gave us pause,” she told reporters. “You see something like that and realize it’s not an ordinary thing.”

Santoro contacted her colleague, classical archaeologist Susann Lusnia, who quickly recognized the artifact’s extraordinary significance. “When I first saw the image that Daniella sent me, it sent a shiver up my spine,” Lusnia said. “I was floored.”

Further research confirmed that the marble slab matched a Roman funerary inscription documented in 1910, which was once held by the National Archaeological Museum in Civitavecchia, a coastal city northwest of Rome.

Missing Since World War II

Historical records show that the Civitavecchia museum, which housed numerous Roman naval artifacts, was destroyed during World War II bombings. Many items were lost or looted in the aftermath.

According to Lusnia, the gravestone’s measurements — roughly one square foot and one inch thick — perfectly matched the original catalog entry. “You can’t have better DNA than that,” she said, noting that museum officials confirmed the tablet had been missing for decades.

The stone commemorates Sextus Congenius Verus, who died at age 42 after more than twenty years of service aboard a ship named for the Greco-Roman god of medicine, Asclepius. The inscription praises him as “well deserving” and was commissioned by two “heirs,” likely his fellow sailors, since Roman soldiers and sailors at that time were legally prohibited from marriage.

From Ancient Italy to Modern Louisiana

How the 1st- or 2nd-century artifact ended up in New Orleans remains a mystery, but clues have begun to emerge.

As news of the discovery spread, Erin Scott O’Brien, a previous owner of the home, came forward saying she recognized the marble slab immediately after seeing it on television. “I always thought it was just a cool piece of art,” she said.

O’Brien explained that she had received the artifact from her grandparents — an Italian woman and a New Orleans man stationed in Italy during World War II. The piece had been displayed as a garden ornament for years before being left behind when the house was sold to Santoro in 2018.

“None of us knew what it was,” O’Brien added. “We were watching the news in shock.”

Repatriation Talks Underway

The discovery has prompted the FBI and Italian authorities to initiate discussions on the tablet’s formal repatriation to Italy. The agency has not yet issued an official statement due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, but experts say the artifact’s provenance appears authentic and well-documented.

If returned, the gravestone will likely be reinstated at the Civitavecchia Archaeological Museum, closing a historical loop that began nearly two millennia ago and was interrupted by war.

A Roman Legacy Remembered

For scholars, the rediscovery of the gravestone is not just an archaeological event but a symbolic resurrection of memory. Grave markers were vital in ancient Roman culture, serving as a way to preserve a person’s name and deeds for eternity.

“Now Sextus Congenius Verus is being talked about so much,” Lusnia reflected. “If there’s an afterlife and he knows, he’s very happy because this is what a Roman wanted — to be remembered forever.”

The unexpected find highlights how the remnants of ancient history can resurface in the most unlikely places — even a quiet backyard in modern-day New Orleans.

Source: AP News – Along-lost ancient Roman artifact reappears in a New Orleans backyard

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Five Australians from the infamous “Bali Nine” heroin-trafficking group have returned home after spending nearly 20 years imprisoned in Indonesia. This marks a significant development in a case that has strained relations between the two nations for almost two decades.

Who Are the Bali Nine?

The Bali Nine were arrested in 2005 for attempting to smuggle over 8 kilograms (17.6 pounds) of heroin from Bali’s Denpasar International Airport into Australia. The group’s actions led to severe consequences under Indonesia’s strict drug laws, with two members executed and others receiving life sentences.

Four members were caught at the airport with drugs strapped to their bodies, while others were apprehended at a hotel in Kuta. Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, identified as the ringleaders, were sentenced to death and executed in 2015, causing an outcry in Australia and marking what former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott called “…a dark moment in the relationship.”

The Long Road Home

The five individuals who returned—Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens—had been serving life sentences in Indonesia. Their return follows months of diplomatic efforts by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who raised their case with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during the APEC Summit in Peru last month.

“I am pleased to confirm that Australian citizens Si Yi Chen, Michael Czugaj, Matthew Norman, Scott Rush, and Martin Stephens have returned to Australia this afternoon,” Albanese wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.

Diplomatic Breakthrough

Indonesia’s Law Minister confirmed the agreement to repatriate the men following Albanese’s discussions with Subianto. “I thank President Prabowo Subianto for his compassion,” Albanese said. Foreign Minister Penny Wong echoed the sentiment, stating that the return allows the men to “continue their personal rehabilitation and reintegration in Australia.”

The return also highlights a significant thaw in tensions between Australia and Indonesia. The case had been a contentious point for years, with Canberra consistently advocating for clemency for the group.

The Aftermath of the Bali Nine Case

The Bali Nine case exposed the severity of Indonesia’s anti-drug laws, which include capital punishment for trafficking offenses. In addition to the executions of Chan and Sukumaran:

• Renae Lawrence, the only female member, was released in 2018 after serving 13 years of her 20-year sentence, commuted due to good behavior.
• Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen, another member, died of kidney cancer in custody in 2018.

The remaining five members—now free in Australia—were previously denied parole due to Indonesia’s hardline stance on drug crimes.

Looking Ahead

The release of the Bali Nine members marks a new chapter in a decades-long saga. While their freedom will likely reignite discussions about drug laws and international diplomacy, their focus now shifts to rebuilding their lives in Australia. The case remains a stark reminder of the harsh penalties for drug trafficking in Southeast Asia.

Source

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