On Thursday, two flights operated by Sky Mali arrived in Kano from Agadez in the Republic of Niger, bringing with them approximately 263 Nigerians who had been stranded. The return was voluntary.
Two groups of passengers reportedly returned to Nigeria via Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport.
The action was part of continuing efforts to secure the safe and dignified repatriation of Nigerians stranded overseas, according to Aliyu Tijani, Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, who was represented by Mrs. Lubah Liman, the Commission’s Kano State Coordinator.
The initial flight touched down at approximately 12:50 pm with 116 passengers, while the subsequent flight touched down at approximately 4:35 pm with 147 people, mostly young males but also some women and children.
The exercise was organised by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration’s (IOM) Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) program to guarantee the safe return of individuals affected.
The exercise highlighted that the repatriation was entirely voluntary and following proper talks with the migrants. Upon arrival, the returnees were brought to the Nigerian Immigration Service Training School in Kano for registration and profile.
She states that profiling and documentation are being carried out by officials of NCFRMI and the Nigerian Immigration Service, with additional support coming from 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.
According to Liman, once the paperwork is in order, the returnees will be able to get multipurpose cash aid and transportation assistance so that they can go back to their hometowns and start over.
Beneficiaries would also be given reintegration assistance to help them start small companies and get back on their feet, she said.
She emphasised that the federal government’s partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders shows its determination to combat irregular migration and ensure the safety of citizens overseas, as part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.