The Federal Government, in a coordinated multi-agency effort, successfully facilitated the return of 403 Nigerian migrants who had been stranded in the Niger Republic.
The voluntary returnees arrived in Nigeria on Saturday, 21st December 2024.
The humanitarian return was jointly organized by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
This marks the second batch of voluntary returns from the Niger Republic within the week, following the arrival of 310 returnees on Tuesday, 17th December 2024.
The reception exercise was conducted at the Nigerian Immigration Service Training School in Kano and was coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
Speaking on behalf of the Honourable Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Honourable Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, the Kano State Coordinator of the Commission, Mrs Lubah Liman, emphasised the government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into various government programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She also commended the seamless collaboration among the participating agencies, which ensured the success of the operation.
Mrs. Liman reported that the returnees comprised 165 males, 56 females, and 182 children and infants.
Officers from NCFRMI and the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) profiled the returnees upon arrival, while representatives from 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 were on hand to provide additional support and assistance.
This ongoing effort reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad and highlights the importance of multi-agency collaboration in addressing migration-related challenges.
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE