A Nigerian returnee from South Africa, Jamyou Sanni, has narrated how financial hardship and the collapse of his businesses forced him into becoming an undocumented migrant after he was unable to renew his residence permit.

Sanni spoke on Vanguard’s The Nigeria Metre Podcast while recounting his experience in South Africa following years of harassment and economic challenges.

According to him, he entered South Africa legally but later struggled to maintain his immigration status after abandoning his studies due to financial difficulties.

“When I got there, I got there legally. The visa was for some months, but within that month, before the visa expired, I was unable to apply for a permanent residence or a permit,” he said.

Sanni explained that he later secured a two-year study permit through Boston College, which enabled him to remain in the country legally for a period.

He, however, said the rising cost of living and declining income made it impossible to continue his education while meeting other financial obligations.

“But after I got the permit, it was hard trying to survive with paying rent monthly. It wasn’t easy to pay school fees, paying rent and keeping up with life as a person. So, I had to let go of school,” he said.

According to him, leaving school meant he could no longer rely on the institution to renew his immigration documents.

“Because I let go of the school, the school also can’t help me to renew my papers. That was what happened. That’s how I became illegal immigrant,” he added.

Asked why he did not apply for permanent residency, Sanni said his intention was only to obtain temporary permits that would allow him to remain in South Africa legally.

“I didn’t apply to stay permanently. I was applying for permits just to stay for as long as they would let me stay,” he said.

He also cited the high cost of renewing permits and the country’s expensive living conditions as major obstacles.

“Even applying for a permit costs so much. If you don’t have a full life for yourself, you pay like 5,000 rand at least for rent per month. You have to stock food and all that, and you don’t earn too much to be able to do everything for yourself. So it’s what you can that you sort yourself with little by little,” he said.