In a coordinated multi-agency operation, the Federal Government of Nigeria successfully facilitated the voluntary return of 403 Nigerian migrants stranded in the Niger Republic.
The returnees arrived in Nigeria on Saturday, December 21, 2024, in a humanitarian effort organized by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
This marks the second batch of returnees from Niger Republic within the week, following the arrival of 310 migrants on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
The reception exercise was conducted at the Nigerian Immigration Service Training School in Kano, coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, the Kano State Coordinator of the Commission, Mrs. Lubah Liman, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into various programmes under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This initiative demonstrates the Federal Government’s resolve to protect its citizens and provide them with opportunities to rebuild their lives,” Mrs. Liman said.
She also praised the seamless collaboration among participating agencies, which ensured the smooth execution of the operation.
The 403 returnees included 165 males, 56 females, and 182 children and infants. Upon arrival, they were profiled by officers from the NCFRMI and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS). Other agencies, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Department of State Security (DSS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Kano State Emergency Management Agency, provided additional support and assistance.
