Esther Salifu
In a continued effort to ensure the safe and dignified return of Nigerian citizens stranded abroad, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA see) has received 150 returnees from Agadez, Niger Republic.
The returnees, comprising 88 adult males, 32 adult females, 14 male children, and 16 female children, arrived at the Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, at about 5:20 a.m. on Thursday, October 23, 2025.
The return operation, coordinated by NEMA’s Kano Operations Office, was carried out under the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) initiative, a programme supported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Federal Government of Nigeria and other relevant agencies.
According to a statement released by NEMA, the exercise was conducted in partnership with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), with officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) on hand to carry out biometric registration and documentation of the returnees upon arrival.
Following the screening and documentation process, the returnees were transported to Bizare Hotel Luxury Apartments in Kano for temporary accommodation and further profiling on Friday, October 24.
“After registration, the returnees were transported to Bizare Hotel Luxury Apartments for accommodation and profiling on 24 October 2025,” the statement noted.
NEMA emphasized that the returnees were provided with immediate humanitarian support, including food, potable water, medical care, ambulance services, and logistical assistance to facilitate a smooth reintegration process.
“This includes the provision of food and potable water to meet immediate nutritional needs, medical care and ambulance services for health-related concerns, luggage handling and logistics support to ease their transit process, and general coordination to ensure a smooth and orderly reception exercise,” the agency added.
NEMA, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other relevant stakeholders, has successfully facilitated the safe return of thousands of Nigerians stranded abroad.
The agency reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe, humane, and orderly return of Nigerians from foreign countries, especially those facing hardship or stranded in transit routes.
