Fresh 403 Nigerians return from Niger Republic – Refugee commission

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), on Monday, disclosed that 403 Nigerian migrants who had been stranded in the Niger Republic voluntarily returned on Saturday. A statement by the agency said the return of the Nigerian refugees was jointly organised by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organization […]

The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), on Monday, disclosed that 403 Nigerian migrants who had been stranded in the Niger Republic voluntarily returned on Saturday.

A statement by the agency said the return of the Nigerian refugees was jointly organised by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This marked the second batch of voluntary returns from Niger Republic within the week, following the arrival of 310 returnees on Tuesday, 17th December 2024.

According to the statement, the reception exercise was conducted at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Training School in Kano.

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Speaking on behalf of the Federal Commissioner of the NCFRMI, Aliyu Tijani Ahmed, the Kano State Coordinator of the Commission, Mrs Lubah Liman, emphasized the government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into various government programs 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 disclosed that the returnees comprised 165 males, 56 females, 182 children and infants.

Officers from NCFRMI and the Nigerian 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, according to the statement.

“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,” the statement added.