The Federal Government on Monday coordinated the return of 708 Nigerians stranded in Niamey, Niger Republic, as officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other humanitarian agencies received them at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
NEMA’s Head of Operations in Kano, Dr. Nura Abdullahi, told journalists that the returnees made up of 292 males and 416 females, including children originated from several states across the federation.
These include Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi and Niger.
He noted that the operation was facilitated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after many of the migrants became stranded and unable to fund their journey back home.
Upon arrival, the returnees were immediately provided with food, temporary shelter and essential relief items such as blankets, mosquito nets and dignity kits. Abdullahi explained that medical personnel from the Nigerian Red Cross were on standby to attend to those in need of medical attention, adding that more serious cases would be referred to designated hospitals for proper care.
The NEMA operations head also urged Nigerian youths to desist from embarking on dangerous trips in search of greener pastures, warning that many irregular migrants often find themselves stranded, exploited or exposed to life-threatening risks.
He confirmed that the returnees would be profiled and transported to their respective states on Tuesday.
Kano Field Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hajiya Luba Liman, described the evacuation as a coordinated, whole-of-government response involving the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
According to her, the return was voluntary, and many of the migrants had no means of returning home without government intervention. Officials of NEMA, NCFRMI, the Nigeria Immigration Service and Kano State Emergency Management Agency were present during the reception.
