403 Stranded Nigerians Safely Repatriated From Niger Republic.
The Federal Government has successfully facilitated the return of 403 Nigerians, including children and infants, who were stranded in Niger Republic. The group, comprising 52 households, arrived in two batches and was received at the Nigeria Immigration Service Training School in Kano.
The Federal Commissioner for the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hon. Aliyu Tijani, represented by the Commission’s State Coordinator, Mrs Lubah Liman, confirmed the details during a reception for the returnees.
The group included 165 males, 56 females, and 182 children and infants. The first batch of 11 individuals arrived on 17th December, followed by the second batch of 392 on Saturday.
The repatriation was executed through a collaborative effort involving the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Hon. Tijani praised the multi-agency coordination that ensured a safe and dignified return for the affected individuals.
“This effort reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad. It also aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to reintegrate returnees into various government programmes,” he stated.
Upon their arrival, the returnees underwent profiling by officers from NCFRMI and the Nigeria Immigration Service. 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 also present to provide additional support.
Hon. Tijani highlighted the importance of inter-agency collaboration in achieving such success, commending all participating organisations for their roles in the operation.
The Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to bring back stranded Nigerians and reintegrate them into society underline its dedication to protecting the welfare of its citizens. Programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda aim to provide opportunities and stability for returnees, helping them rebuild their lives.
The safe repatriation of the 403 individuals serves as a testament to the government’s resolve to uphold the dignity and rights of Nigerians abroad while strengthening national support systems.
