By Bosede Olufunmi
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday received another batch of 266 stranded Nigerians from the neighbouring Niger Republic.
The Director-General NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed-Habib, made the disclosure while receiving the returnees
at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.
Ahmed-Habib, represented by NEMA Coordinator Kano Territorial Office, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, said the returnees arrived at the international wing of the airport.
“130 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 noted that the returnees were brought back to Kano under the care of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) from Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic through a voluntary repatriation programme.
“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 director-general explained that the returnees would undergo a four-day training on how to achieve self-sustainability and would be provided with seed capital to enable them to engage in productive activities to be self-reliant.
NAN reported that the returnees were received by NEMA along with other sister agencies which included the Kano State Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs and the Nigeria Red Cross Society.
