263 Stranded Nigerians Return From Niger Republic Under Assisted Programme

A total of 263 Nigerians stranded in the Republic of Niger have returned home through an assisted voluntary repatriation exercise coordinated by local and international agencies.

The returnees arrived at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport on Thursday in two batches aboard Sky Mali flights from Agadez. Officials said the first aircraft landed around 12:50 p.m. with 116 passengers, while the second touched down around 4:35 p.m. carrying 147 people.

The Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), Aliyu Tijani, spoke through the commission’s Kano State Coordinator, Mrs Lubah Liman. She said the operation was part of continuing efforts to ensure Nigerians stranded abroad return in safety and dignity.

According to Liman, the movement was implemented under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with NCFRMI and other Nigerian institutions.

After arrival in Kano, the returnees were taken to the Nigerian Immigration Service Training School for profiling and documentation. Liman said officials wanted to ensure records were complete and that the process reflected the voluntary nature of the return.

She said agencies supporting the exercise include the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, the Department of State Services, the National Emergency Management Agency and the Kano State Emergency Management Agency.

Liman said each beneficiary would receive multipurpose cash support and transport assistance to reach final destinations across the country. She added that reintegration packages are also planned to help returnees start small businesses and rebuild livelihoods after difficult migration experiences.

She said the Federal Government’s position is to strengthen protection for migrants while discouraging irregular movement routes that expose citizens to abuse, trafficking and insecurity. She added that cooperation with IOM and domestic agencies shows a coordinated approach to migration management and citizen welfare.

Most of the returnees were young men, with a smaller number of women and children. Officials at the centre said screening, counselling and onward movement planning were being handled in phases to avoid confusion.

Authorities said more return operations may follow as consultations continue with Nigerians in transit locations. For now, the focus remains immediate support, proper documentation and reintegration so beneficiaries can return to stable community life.