The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 708 Nigerians evacuated from Niamey, Niger Republic, as part of a government-coordinated repatriation effort.
The returnees arrived on Monday at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport at approximately 4:08 pm in a convoy of 12 buses. According to Dr. Nura Abdullahi, Head of Operations at NEMA’s Kano office, the evacuees were immediately registered and screened upon arrival.
The group comprised 292 males and 416 females, including adults and children. They originated from several states across the country, including Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Benue, Borno, Yobe, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, and Niger.
Medical personnel from the Nigerian Red Cross Society were on ground to provide immediate healthcare support to those in need. Cases requiring advanced medical attention were promptly referred to designated state hospitals for further treatment.
Abdullahi used the occasion to caution Nigerians, particularly youths, against embarking on irregular migration in search of better opportunities abroad. He warned that such journeys often expose individuals to life-threatening risks and uncertain conditions.
Also speaking, Hajiya Luba Liman, Kano Field Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), described the evacuation as a collaborative effort involving multiple government agencies. She noted that the operation was carried out in partnership with the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey and the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Liman emphasized that the evacuation was voluntary and specifically targeted at Nigerians who were unable to finance their return journey. She added that the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of its citizens, both within and outside the country.
Authorities say the returnees will undergo further profiling and reintegration support as part of ongoing efforts to assist displaced Nigerians and discourage unsafe migration practices.
