From Okwe Obi, Abuja
The Federal Government has repatriated 390 Nigerian migrants stranded in Niamey, Niger Republic.
The government, through the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), in collaboration with other stakeholders, coordinated the reception exercise for the returnees at the Immigration Training School, Kano State.
The reception exercise, yesterday, was a coordinated multi-agency operation organized by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
This latest effort marks the continuation of voluntary returns initiated in 2024 and represents the third batch of returnees from Niger Republic.
The 390 returnees included 387 adult males, 2 adult females, and 1 infant. Upon arrival, the returnees were registered and profiled by NCFRMI and NIS officials to ensure proper documentation and access to various Federal Government reintegration support programs.
Speaking at the reception, Federal Commissioner of the NCFRMI, Tijjani Aliyu Ahmed, represented by the Kano Field Coordinator, Lubah Liman, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees.
He emphasised that the returnees would be integrated into various empowerment programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to support their reintegration.
Ahmed commended the seamless collaboration among participating agencies, noting that their joint efforts ensured the success of the operation. He highlighted the critical role of multi-agency collaboration in addressing migration-related challenges.
Stakeholders present at the reception exercise included 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), State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, and the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), among others.