The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 708 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Niamey, marking another effort by the Federal Government to assist citizens facing hardship abroad.
The returnees arrived on Monday at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, where they were received and processed by officials.
Dr. Nura Abdullahi, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kano office, confirmed that the evacuees were transported in 12 buses and arrived at approximately 4:08 pm. They are currently undergoing profiling and verification.
According to officials, the group includes 292 male adults and children, alongside 416 female adults and children. They hail from various states, including Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, and Niger.
Abdullahi noted that the evacuation was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Upon arrival, the returnees were provided with food, temporary shelter, and essential supplies.
“They have also been given blankets, mosquito nets and dignity kits containing toiletries, wrappers, sanitary pads and other essentials.
“By tomorrow morning, after necessary profiling, they will be transported to their respective states,” Abdullahi said.
Medical teams from the Nigerian Red Cross Society were also present to attend to those in need of care, with serious cases set for referral to health facilities.
Hajiya Luba Liman, Kano Field Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, described the operation as a coordinated national effort.
“This is a voluntary return. Many of them could not afford to come back on their own, so the government arranged for their evacuation,” Liman said.
She explained that the process involved collaboration between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Some of the evacuees recounted difficult experiences that forced them to flee.
Malam Kamalu Abdullahi, a returnee from Kaduna State who had lived in Niamey for over a decade, described how violence disrupted his life.
“I woke up one morning, hearing people shouting ‘fire, fire’. My house and those of other Nigerians were set ablaze. When I came out, I was attacked and told to leave the country,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to the government for facilitating his return and stated he would not consider going back.
Another returnee, Rabi’a Inusa from Jigawa State, shared her struggle after leaving Nigeria in search of better opportunities.
“My husband in Nigeria sold our house and threw my belongings on the street. I decided to travel to Algeria to seek greener pastures, rent a house in Nigeria, and provide for my children.
“I was sleeping on the streets. I was directed to a camp for voluntary returnees. I spent over N100,000 on transport when I was travelling to Niamey and returned home with nothing,” she said.
Officials used the opportunity to caution Nigerians, especially young people, against irregular migration and the risks associated with seeking opportunities abroad without proper planning or documentation.
The return of 708 Nigerians from Niger Republic highlights the growing challenges faced by migrants in the region, as well as the government’s ongoing efforts to support and reintegrate affected citizens. While immediate relief has been provided, the focus now shifts to long-term reintegration and addressing the root causes that push many Nigerians to seek uncertain futures outside the country.
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