Xenophobia: Govt Must Reverse Policies Fueling Mass Migration – Ex Envoy

A former Nigerian Ambassador to Japan, Ambassador Mohammed Gana Yisa, has blamed the failure of successive government policies for the increasing expulsion and return of Nigerians from several African countries.

He said many citizens were leaving the country because economic conditions have become unbearable.

Gana Yisa, who is now a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), said it was unfortunate that Nigeria, despite its enormous human and natural resources, had reached a stage where its citizens were seeking opportunities in countries with fewer resources.

Speaking during an interaction with journalists in Ilorin, the former envoy described the development as a national embarrassment and a reflection of poor governance.

“It is a shame that a country as endowed as Nigeria, 65 years after independence, now has its citizens being driven out of smaller and less endowed countries back to Nigeria,” he said.

According to him, the situation was not caused by the host countries but by policies that had failed to create opportunities for Nigerians at home.

“It is a shame that the government has not been able to take care of its citizens or provide employment,” he said.

The former ambassador cited countries including Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire and South Africa, arguing that many Nigerians were now struggling to remain in those nations because of worsening economic conditions at home.

“It is a failure of the government that brought about this situation,” he added.

Gana Yisa urged the Federal Government to prioritise the welfare of returning Nigerians by creating employment and implementing policies capable of encouraging them to rebuild their lives in the country.

“We need to bring back our people. That is the first thing. Then we need to provide for them. We can do it without even borrowing, which this government has made its primary assignment,” he said.

He criticised the excessive borrowing by the Federal Government, alleging that the loans had not translated into visible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

The former envoy also questioned the government’s infrastructure priorities, arguing that resources should be channelled into programmes that directly improve citizens’ welfare instead of projects he considered less urgent.

He maintained that retaliatory actions against countries repatriating Nigerians would not solve the problem, insisting that the real solution lay in making Nigeria attractive enough for its citizens to remain.

“You cannot retaliate. Bring back your people and make provisions for them and they will stay,” he said.

According to him, many Nigerians living abroad would willingly return if the country offered employment opportunities, security and an enabling environment.

“Many Nigerians want to come back. But when they come back, what are they coming to do? Government policies must change,” Gana Yisa said.

He said the worsening economic hardship, insecurity and growing exodus of Nigerians had strengthened the resolve of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to offer a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The former Kwara State deputy speaker maintained that Nigerians were becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the ruling party, expressing confidence that the ADC would capitalise on the public mood.

“The ADC will not agree with the way this country is being governed. Nigerians are fed up, and I believe the ADC will win the next election because the people are looking for a new direction,” he said.

He urged Nigerians to use the 2027 polls to elect leaders capable of addressing insecurity, unemployment and economic challenges, insisting that a change in leadership was necessary to restore confidence in the country.

“We have an opportunity to say no to poverty, no to insecurity and no to policies that have made Nigeria difficult to live in. We must insist on free, fair and credible elections because with the right leadership, things can begin to change from day one,” Gana Yisa added.

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