No fewer than 263 stranded Nigerians have voluntarily returned from Agadez in the Niger Republic, arriving in Kano aboard two flights under a coordinated repatriation effort.
The returnees arrived in two batches at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, with the majority identified as young men, alongside a few women and children.
The exercise was conducted under the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme of the International Organization for Migration in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).
The Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, Hon. Aliyu Tijani, represented by the Commission’s Kano State Coordinator, Mrs. Lubah Liman, said the operation is part of ongoing efforts to ensure the safe, orderly, and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad.
She emphasized that the repatriation process was strictly voluntary and carried out after extensive consultations with the migrants.
According to Liman, officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service are conducting profiling and documentation of the returnees. Other agencies, including the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Department of State Services (DSS), and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), are also providing support to ensure their welfare and reintegration.
She further disclosed that after completing documentation, the returnees would receive multipurpose cash assistance and transportation support to enable them return safely to their respective communities. Reintegration assistance, including support to establish small businesses, will also be provided to help them rebuild their lives.
Liman reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting migrants and supporting reintegration efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. She noted that the partnership between the government, IOM, and other stakeholders reflects a sustained commitment to addressing irregular migration and safeguarding Nigerian citizens abroad.
The AVRR programme continues to serve as a critical humanitarian pathway for stranded migrants seeking voluntary return and reintegration into society.