As part of its mandate to support the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of stranded Nigerian migrants, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), through its Kano Operations Office, on Tuesday, 29th July 2025, participated in the reception of 139 Nigerian returnees from Agadez, Niger Republic.
The returnees, who had embarked on irregular migration routes in search of better opportunities, were successfully evacuated and flown back to Nigeria aboard a Sky Mali chartered flight. The aircraft landed at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) at approximately 7:57 p.m., where NEMA officials and other relevant stakeholders were on ground to receive them.
A breakdown of the returnees shows a diverse demographic composition:
* **Male Adults:** 22
* **Female Adults:** 52
* **Male Children:** 33
* **Female Children:** 32
Upon arrival, the returnees were carefully documented and received immediate humanitarian assistance, including light refreshments, medical checks, and initial counselling. They were thereafter conveyed to Badala Hotel, where they were temporarily accommodated pending profiling and further reintegration procedures, which continued on Wednesday, 30th July 2025.
NEMA officials at the scene described the reception exercise as peaceful and well-coordinated, reiterating the agency’s ongoing commitment to working with partners to manage migration-related emergencies, especially in border communities and transit corridors.
The Agency also commended the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other stakeholders for their continued collaboration in facilitating the return and reintegration of Nigerians who have faced hardship abroad.
This latest batch of returnees underscores the urgent need for intensified public awareness on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of creating safe, legal, and structured pathways for mobility. NEMA reaffirmed its resolve to continue supporting returnees through emergency assistance and reintegration support in line with national and international frameworks on migration governance.
