Olusegun Ariyo
A total of 180 Nigerian migrants stranded in Niamey, Niger Republic, have been successfully repatriated to the country through a coordinated effort led by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in collaboration with key stakeholders.
The returnees arrived at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday.
This fourth batch of returnees consists of 86 adult males, 40 adult females, 25 male children, and 29 female children.
The repatriation is part of the federal government’s ongoing voluntary return initiative, which began in 2024. With this latest effort, the total number of returnees from Niger Republic now stands at 1,272.
Speaking at the reception exercise held at the Immigration Training School in Kano, NCFRMI Federal Commissioner, Hon. Tijjani Ahmed, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into society.
Represented by the commission’s state field coordinator, Hajia Lubah Liman, he assured that the returnees would benefit from various empowerment programs under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
He further stated that upon arrival, the returnees were registered and profiled by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) to ensure proper documentation.
He commended the seamless collaboration among agencies involved in the operation, emphasizing its significance in tackling migration-related challenges.
Several stakeholders participated in the reception exercise, including representatives from the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), International Organisation for Migration (IOM), National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), Kano State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster and Poverty Reduction, and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), among others.
