NEMA Receives 150 Stranded Nigerians from Niger Republic
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 150 Nigerians who were stranded in Agadez, Niger Republic, through the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programme facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The returnees, comprising 88 adult males, 32 adult females, 14 male children, and 16 female children, arrived at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, around 5:20 a.m. on Thursday aboard a chartered flight.
NEMA’s Northwest Zonal Coordinator, Nuraddeen Abdullahi, who received the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, said they were brought back under the ongoing humanitarian support to Nigerians who voluntarily decided to return home after being stranded while attempting to migrate to Europe through irregular routes.
According to Abdullahi, the returnees will undergo profiling and receive initial assistance, including food, medical care, clothing, and stipends for transportation to their respective home states. He noted that they were expected to come from several states across the country, particularly from the northern region.
He commended the IOM for its continuous collaboration with NEMA and other agencies in managing the return and reintegration of stranded Nigerians, adding that over the years, the partnership had helped thousands of citizens return home safely.
One of the returnees, who spoke anonymously, expressed relief at being back in Nigeria after months of hardship in Niger Republic. “We suffered a lot trying to cross to Libya, but things didn’t work out. I’m happy to be home,” he said.
The latest return is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and international partners to curb irregular migration and ensure the safe return and reintegration of Nigerians stranded abroad.
