Returnees arrive Kano amid ongoing government efforts to curb irregular migration
By Rejoice Peterside
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received another batch of 522 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Niger Republic as part of the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary return programme.
The returnees arrived on Sunday evening at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport aboard 12 buses from Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic. They were immediately subjected to profiling and documentation upon arrival.
Speaking during the reception, the Head of Operations, NEMA Kano Office, Dr. Nura Abdullahi, clarified that the exercise was voluntary and not a forced evacuation, noting that the initiative was coordinated by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to him, the group comprised 267 adult males, 101 adult females, 82 boys, and 72 girls drawn from various states including Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, and Bauchi.
Abdullahi explained that NEMA, in collaboration with other humanitarian and security stakeholders, had put in place adequate measures to cater to the immediate needs of the returnees.
“We have all relevant agencies on ground to ensure proper care. The Nigerian Red Cross has deployed its medical team, and a mobile intensive care unit is also available to attend to those with health challenges,” he said.
He added that several of the returnees required urgent medical attention, which was already being provided at the reception centre.
The NEMA official attributed the migration trend to economic hardship, noting that many of the returnees had embarked on irregular journeys in search of better opportunities abroad, particularly in North African countries such as Libya and Algeria.
“Most of them were trying to move onward to other countries but had to return after discovering that the journey was unsafe,” Abdullahi stated.
He disclosed that temporary shelters had been arranged for the returnees, where they would be accommodated pending their relocation to their respective states of origin.
Items distributed to the returnees included food, blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits containing toiletries, sanitary materials, and clothing.
“After verification and proper profiling, arrangements will be made to transport them back to their states,” he added.
Abdullahi further advised Nigerians against undertaking dangerous migration routes in search of greener pastures, stressing that such journeys often expose individuals to life-threatening risks.
Also speaking, a representative of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Magaji Umar, commended the Federal Government for facilitating the safe and dignified return of its citizens.
He noted that the repatriation aligned with Nigeria’s national migration policy and underscored the government’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
Umar said the operation was achieved through coordinated efforts involving Nigerian diplomatic missions and international partners, including the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
He reiterated the government’s resolve to continue working with stakeholders to ensure effective migration management and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians outside the country.
The latest development comes barely a week after NEMA received 708 Nigerians repatriated from Niger Republic on March 23, highlighting the increasing number of citizens returning from irregular migration routes.
Officials from sister agencies, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, and the Nigerian Red Cross, were present at the reception to support the exercise.
