The National Emergency Management Agency has received 708 Nigerians evacuated from Niamey in the Niger Republic, as part of efforts to assist citizens stranded abroad.
The returnees arrived on Monday at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano, where they were received and registered by officials for onward support and reintegration.
Speaking to journalists, the Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kano office, Dr. Nura Abdullahi, said the group consisted of 292 males and 416 females, including children, from several states such as Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Borno, Yobe, Kaduna, Benue, Kogi, Zamfara, and Niger.
According to him, the evacuation was coordinated by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“The returnees have been provided with food and temporary shelter. They have also received relief materials including blankets, mosquito nets, and dignity kits containing toiletries and sanitary items,” Abdullahi said.
He added that profiling and documentation were ongoing, after which the individuals would be transported back to their respective states.
“Medical personnel are on ground to attend to those who are unwell, while severe cases will be referred to appropriate health facilities,” he noted.
Abdullahi also cautioned Nigerian youths against embarking on risky migration journeys in search of better opportunities abroad.
“We advise young Nigerians to avoid putting their lives in danger while seeking greener pastures outside the country,” he said.
Also speaking, the Kano Field Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, Hajiya Luba Liman, described the evacuation as a coordinated government effort.
“This exercise reflects a whole-of-government approach involving the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is a voluntary return programme for those who could not afford to come back on their own,” Liman explained.
Some of the returnees shared personal accounts of hardship and violence that forced them to flee Niger Republic.
A returnee from Kaduna State, Kamalu Abdullahi, said he had lived in Niamey for over a decade before unrest disrupted his life.
“There was a sudden outbreak of violence. Homes belonging to Nigerians were set on fire, and I was attacked and ordered to leave. I have no intention of going back,” he said.
Another returnee, Rabi’a Inusa from Jigawa State, recounted her struggle after relocating in search of better opportunities.
“I travelled with my children hoping for a better life, but it was very difficult. I ended up sleeping on the streets and eventually joined a camp for voluntary returnees. I spent a lot on the journey and came back with nothing,” she said.
Officials from NEMA, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other agencies were present at the airport to receive the evacuees.
Many of the returnees, particularly women and children, appeared visibly distressed upon arrival, highlighting the challenges faced during their time abroad.
