One hundred and fourty stranded Nigerian migrants, including children have been repatriated back to the country from Sudan.
The voluntary return of the stranded Nigerians was coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other key stakeholders.
The first batch of returnees arrived at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, on a Boeing 737B aircraft, at approximately 5:18pm on Thursday.
They consist of 34 male and 54 female adults, 17 male, and 22 female children, as well as six male and seven female infants.
Speaking during a reception at the Nigerian Immigration School in Kano on Friday, NCFRMI Federal Commissioner, Tijjani Ahmed, said the federal government is committed to the voluntary repatriation, and reintegration of stranded Nigerians abroad.
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He noted that the commission has carried out series of return exercises from Niger Republic, and this first batch from Sudan, pointing out that, since the commencement of the exercise in 2024, a total of 1,412 migrants have successfully been repatriated.
Represented by the commission’s state Field Coordinator, Hajia Lubah Liman, Ahmed said government will ensure the returnees are empowered, and successfully reintegrated back into their respective communities.
He said upon arrival, the returnees were profiled by officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), to ensure accurate documentation.
The federal commissioner, however, commended the collaborative efforts of all participating agencies, and stakeholders, acknowledging their role in the smooth execution of the operation.
