The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 522 Nigerians who were stranded in Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, as part of ongoing voluntary repatriation efforts.
The returnees arrived at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport on Sunday evening, transported in 12 buses. The group included 267 men, 101 women, 82 boys, and 72 girls from several Nigerian states, including Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, and Bauchi.
Dr Nura Abdullahi, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kano office, described the exercise as “purely voluntary” and coordinated by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He said arrangements had been made to provide temporary shelter, food, medical care, blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits containing toiletries and sanitary supplies.
“Some of the returnees had health challenges and are receiving medical attention,” Dr Abdullahi added. He also urged Nigerians to avoid risking their lives by travelling abroad in search of better economic opportunities, stressing that no country is safer than their own.
Mr Magaji Umar, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended the Federal Government for ensuring the safe and dignified return of its citizens.
He said the operation was in line with Nigeria’s national migration policy and highlighted the collaboration between key stakeholders, including Nigerian missions, the International Organization for Migration, and humanitarian agencies.
This latest batch follows the return of 708 Nigerians from Niger on 23 March, with NEMA and other agencies such as the Nigeria Red Cross, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and state emergency management teams coordinating the operation.
