Nigeria Repatriates 180 Migrants Stranded in Niger Republic

A total of 180 Nigerian migrants stranded in Niamey, Niger Republic, have been successfully repatriated through a coordinated effort led by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in collaboration with key partners.

The group, which includes 86 adult males, 40 adult females, 25 male children, and 29 female children, arrived at Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, at 11:20 a.m. on Tuesday.

This marks the fourth batch of returnees under the federal government's voluntary return program, which began in 2024. With this latest effort, the total number of Nigerians repatriated from Niger Republic now stands at 1,272.

Speaking at the Immigration Training School in Kano, NCFRMI Federal Commissioner, Hon. Tijjani Ahmed, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reintegrating the returnees into society.

Represented by Hajia Lubah Liman, the commission’s state field coordinator, Ahmed assured the returnees that they would benefit from several empowerment programs under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s "Renewed Hope Agenda."

To ensure proper documentation, the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) registered and profiled all returnees upon arrival.

Ahmed highlighted the importance of the repatriation operation in addressing migration challenges, praising the seamless cooperation among the various agencies involved.

The reception exercise was attended by several organizations, including:

• Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS)
• International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP)
• National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)
• Department of State Services (DSS)
• Nigeria Police Force
• Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)
• Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS)
• Kano State Ministry of Youth and Sports
• Kano State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster, and Poverty Reduction
• State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA)