No fewer than 522 stranded Nigerians have returned to the country from Niamey in the Niger Republic.
The returnees arrived on Sunday and were received in Kano by officials of the National Emergency Management Agency as part of an ongoing voluntary repatriation programme.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the group travelled in 12 luxury buses and reached the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport at about 5:10 p.m., where officials commenced profiling.
The Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kano Office, Nura Abdullahi, addressed journalists shortly after their arrival. He clarified that the exercise was not forced.
“It is a voluntary repatriation of Nigerians from the Niger Republic. The returnees were brought back by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” he said.
Abdullahi disclosed that the group included 267 adult men, 101 adult women, 82 boys, and 72 girls. He added that they came from several states, including Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, and Bauchi.
He said arrangements had been made to support the returnees on arrival, with several agencies present to provide assistance.
“We have all our relevant stakeholders on the ground. The Nigerian Red Cross is here with their medical team, and we have also provided a mobile intensive care unit.
“As you can see, some of them have health challenges and are already receiving medical attention,” he said.
He linked their journey abroad to economic reasons, noting that many had attempted to reach North African countries.
“Most of them were likely heading to countries like Libya and Algeria in search of greener pastures but had to return after realising the journey was not safe,” he added.
Temporary shelter arrangements have also been made for the returnees. They received food items, blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits that contain toiletries, wrappers, and sanitary materials.
“After necessary physical verification and profiling, they will be transported to their respective states,” he said.
Abdullahi urged Nigerians to avoid risky migration in search of better opportunities, stressing that safety should come first.
A representative of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Magaji Umar, also spoke on the development. He praised the Federal Government for ensuring the safe return of the citizens.
He explained that the effort aligns with Nigeria’s migration policy and reflects the administration’s commitment to protecting citizens abroad. He added that the operation followed collaboration among key stakeholders, including Nigerian missions and the International Organisation for Migration.
Umar reaffirmed that the government would continue to work with relevant partners to manage migration and protect Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria reported that 708 stranded Nigerians were earlier received from the Niger Republic on March 23. The exercise involved NEMA and other agencies such as SEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Nigerian Red Cross, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
