NEMA receives 266 stranded Nigerians from Niger Republic

Another group of 266 stranded Nigerians arrived at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday from the neighboring Niger Republic.

Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed-Habib, the Director-General of NEMA, revealed this while welcoming the returnees at Kano's Malam Aminu Kano International Airport.

The returnees landed at the international terminal of the airport, according to Ahmed-Habib, who was speaking on behalf of NEMA Coordinator Kano Territorial Office, Dr. Nuradeen Abdullahi.

“One hundred and thirty returnees arrived late Thursday night at about 10:50 p.m. while 136 arrived on Friday at about 3:50 a.m. with SKY MALI Airlines operated by Ethiopian airlines FML5001 with registration number VR-CQX”

He stated that a voluntary repatriation scheme was used to transport the returnees from Niamey, the capital of the Niger Republic, to Kano under the supervision of the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

“The programme was meant for the distressed Nigerians who had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries and could not afford to return when their journey became frustrating.

“The returnees included 144 adult males, 56 adult females and 66 children.

“The returnees are from different parts of the country, some from Katsina, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto and Kano States, among others,” he said.

The returnees would receive a four-day course on how to become self-sufficient as well as seed money to enable them to start profitable businesses and become independent, according to the director-general.

“We want you to serve as ambassadors who would be sensitising other Nigerians against irregular migration,“ he said.

No country is better than our own country, Nigeria, he said, advising the populace to stay away from risking their lives by moving abroad in search of better opportunities.

According to Ahmed-Habib, the organization welcomed 723 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Agadas, Republic, Khartoum, Sudan, and Chad between April and December 13, 2022, and they were trained in a variety of skill acquisitions.

He urged them to take lessons from their mistakes and uphold the law.

In describing their struggles, Hajiya Salamatu Muhammad of Kano State claimed that she and her six-year-old granddaughter went to Niger in search of better lands.

“Initially, I intended to travel to Algeria but on our way, the driver dropped us in a town called Asamaka in Niger Republic.

“My husband is old and his shop has been seized so I had no option than to travel to seek greener pasture.

“Before I left Nigeria I was into making fura (millet dough ball). We spent six months in Asamaka, we suffered in the process. My granddaughter took ill as a result and could not eat and had to be administered drip to survive,” she said.

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