263 stranded Nigerians return home from Niger Republic
263 Stranded Nigerians Return Home from Niger on Sky Mali Flights
KANO — Approximately 263 Nigerians stranded abroad have voluntarily returned to the country, arriving at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Thursday aboard two Sky Mali flights from Agadez, Niger.
The returnees landed in two separate batches. The first flight touched down around 12:50 p.m. with 116 passengers, while the second arrived at approximately 4:35 p.m. carrying 147 individuals, predominantly young men, along with a few women and children.
Aliyu Tijani, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), emphasized that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to facilitate the safe and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad. Mrs. Lubah Liman, the Commission’s coordinator for Kano State, represented Tijani during the arrival.
The repatriation effort is conducted under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and NCFRMI.
Upon arrival, the returnees were directed to the Nigerian Immigration Service Training School in Kano for documentation and profiling. Liman highlighted that the repatriation process was strictly voluntary and conducted following consultations with the migrants.
“Officials from NCFRMI and the Nigerian Immigration Service are conducting profiling and documentation. Other agencies, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the Department of State Services, and the National Emergency Management Agency, are providing additional support,” she said.
After completing the documentation process, returnees will receive multipurpose cash assistance and transportation support to facilitate their reintegration into their communities.
Liman also confirmed that assistance would be provided to help beneficiaries establish small businesses as part of their reintegration into society. She noted that the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, remains committed to protecting migrants and facilitating their reintegration, reinforcing the importance of collaboration with IOM and other stakeholders to address irregular migration and safeguard citizens abroad.
