Friday, May 2, 2025

NEMA receives 146 stranded Nigerians from Niger republic

Must read

Rayyan Alhassan
Rayyan Alhassanhttps://dailynigerian.com/author/rayyan/
Rayyan Alhassan is a graduate of Journalism and Mass Communication at Sikkim Manipal University, Ghana. He is the acting Managing Editor at the Daily Nigerian newspaper, a position he has held for the past 3 years. He can be reached via rayyanalhassan@dailynigerian.com, or www.facebook.com/RayyanAlhassan, or @Rayyan88 on Twitter.
- Advertisement -
tiamin rice
tiamin rice

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, on Wednesday received 146 stranded Nigerians from Niamey, Niger republic.

Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA Co-coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, stated this while receiving the returnees at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano.

The returnees arrived at the airport at about 10:35 a.m on board B737-400 SKY MALI Airline plane with registration number UR-CQX.

tiamin rice

Mr Abdullahi said the returnees were brought back through a voluntary repatriation programme, under the care of International Organisation for Migration, IOM.

He said that the programme was meant for distressed persons who left the country in search of greener pastures in various European countries, but could not afford to return.

READ ALSO:   Onitsha residents shun sit-at-home order

“The returnees comprised 56 male adults, 39 female adults and 51 children ( 35 female and 16 male) from different states of Nigeria, particularly Katsina, Kano, Adamawa, Lagos, Imo, Enugu, Edo, among others.

“The returnees would undergo training for three-days on how to achieve self-sustainability and would be provided with seed capital to enable them to become self-reliant,” he said.

Mr Abdullahi advised Nigerian youths to avoid embarking on a dangerous journey abroad in search for greener pastures that may be available at home.

“There is no country better than Nigeria as there are ample opportunities for all of us to thrive and live happily.

READ ALSO:   Borno targets 85,000 houses to resettle 2m IDPs – Zulum
whatsApp

“If they must travel abroad, they should do so legally and through the right channels to avoid falling prey to human traffickers and other forms of exploitation,” he said.

Recounting his ordeal, a returnee, Emeka Njoku from Imo, said he travelled to Tunisia four months ago to seek greener pastures.

“I have been a graduate for the past eight years. I have been looking for a job; no job and I don’t have the capital to start a business, and I have a family to cater for.

“On reaching Tunisia, I really suffered. I will never advise anyone to think of travelling out of the country to seek greener pastures this way.

READ ALSO:   Osun Guber: Court dismisses suit seeking Oyetola’s disqualification

“Nigeria is a sweet country because you have freedom to move about,” he said.

Mr Njoku called on the government at all levels to empower youths by providing job opportunities across the country.

The returnee expressed gratitude to IOM and the Federal Government for their safe return.

Representatives of the Nigeria Red Cross, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, Police among others, were also on ground to receive the returnees.

NAN

- Advertisement -

More articles

- Advertisement -

Latest article

- Advertisement -