Writing by Khadijah Aliyu;Editing by Abubakar Hamza.
National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 522 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Niamey, Niger Republic, as part of ongoing voluntary return efforts by the Federal Government.
The returnees, conveyed in 12 buses, arrived at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, at about 5:10 p.m., where they were received and profiled by officials.
Speaking to journalists at the airport, the Head of Operations, NEMA Kano Office, Dr. Nura Abdullahi, said the exercise was purely voluntary and not a forced evacuation.
Abdullahi disclosed that the returnees comprised 267 adult males, 101 adult females, 82 boys, and 72 girls drawn from various states, including Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, and Bauchi.
He noted that NEMA, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, had put adequate measures in place to cater for the returnees upon arrival.
According to him, many of the returnees had embarked on irregular migration in search of better economic opportunities, with destinations such as Libya and Algeria, but were forced to return after encountering challenges along the route.
Abdullahi further stated that temporary shelter arrangements had been made, while essential relief items including food, blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits containing toiletries and sanitary materials were distributed to the returnees.
Also speaking, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Magaji Umar, commended the Federal Government for facilitating the safe and dignified return of the citizens.
He said the exercise aligned with Nigeria’s national migration policy and the administration’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad.
Umar maintained that the operation was the result of coordinated efforts among key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigerian missions, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
The returnees were received by NEMA alongside other agencies, including the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Nigerian Red Cross, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
Khadijah Aliyu.
