390 Stranded Nigerians Arrive From Niger Republic

Another set of 390 Nigerian migrants stranded in Niamey, Niger Republic have been repatriated back to the country.

The returnees, consisting of 387 adult males, two adult females, and one infant boy, arrived at the Nigeria Immigration Training School, Kano, at about 1:05 a.m. on Tuesday.

LEADERSHIP had reported that in December 2024, a set of 702 stranded Nigerians were returned back to the country from Niger Republic.

Speaking during their reception on Tuesday in Kano, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Hon. Tijjani Ahmed, reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into various empowerment programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He explained that the repatriation efforts was coordinated through multi-agency operation organised by the Nigerian Mission in Niamey and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Represented by the Kano State field coordinator, Hajiya Lubah Liman, the commissioner said the latest effort marks the continuation of voluntary returns initiated in 2024 and represents the third batch of returnees from the Niger Republic.

“Upon arrival, the returnees were registered and profiled by NCFRMI and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) officials to ensure proper documentation and access to various Federal Government reintegration support programmes,” he said.

While commending the seamless collaboration efforts among participating agencies, he stressed that the joint efforts ensured the success of the operation.

Stakeholders present during the reception exercise included representatives from the NIS, 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.