Safe for Whom? A Human Security Perspective on Nigeria as a ‘Safe Country of Origin’

Bibliographic Data

ID12212200
AuthorsXander Creed (0000-0001-8204-8267, MA Development Studies, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam , 2518 AX Den Haag, The Netherlands, corresponding author), Zeynep Kaşlı (0000-0002-6886-5890, International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam , 2518 AX Den Haag, The Netherlands), Shyamika Jaysundara-Smits (International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam , 2518 AX Den Haag, The Netherlands)
Year2023
Volume36
Issue3
Pages359-382
Publication date2023-03-27
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Refugee Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0951-6328 • E-ISSN: 1471-6925
PublisherOxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1093/jrs/fead002
OpenAlexW4360988560
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited46

There has been a proliferation of readmission agreements and voluntary return programmes between the EU, its members and third countries, in which non-state actors play an increasing role. Based on the case of return to Nigeria, this article develops a discursive account of human security conditions in Nigeria to identify the changes and continuities over time in the diverse representations of what constitutes conditions suitable for a safe, dignified return. Our study shows that discourses in favour of return to Nigeria, despite nuances and shifts over time, have remained predominantly and persistently focused on economic, political, individual and community security and entirely overlook the growing challenges of food and environmental (in)security—hence failing to fully consider conditions constituting ‘safe return’ or nonrefoulement. Our findings challenge what is discursively constructed as ‘safe’ in return policies and practices and suggest that durable policy solutions require paying attention to multidimensional human security conditions

Agriculture · Business · Development economics · Economic growth · Economics · Food security · Geography · Human security · Perspective (graphical · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Public economics · State (computer science · Human Rights and Development · International Development and Aid · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare · Law