Jamyou Sanni, a Nigerian who returned home from South Africa, shared his story on the Vanguard newspaper’s The Nigeria Metre Podcast. He described how persistent financial struggles and failed business ventures eventually led him to lose his legal immigration status.
Sanni initially arrived in South Africa with proper documentation. While he successfully obtained a two-year study permit through Boston College, the high cost of living made it impossible to keep up with both tuition fees and rent. When he opted to drop out of school to manage his expenses, he lost the institutional support required to renew his visa.
Sanni clarified that he never sought permanent residency, focusing instead on securing temporary permits. However, the steep financial requirements for those applications, combined with high monthly living costs like 5,000 rand for rent, prevented him from maintaining his legal standing. Facing these economic pressures, he ultimately transitioned into an undocumented status.