The Federal Government, in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), has repatriated 150 stranded Nigerians from (Niamey) Niger Republic.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, disclosed this while receiving the returnees at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano on Monday.
Umar-Farouq, represented by the Director of Humanitarian Affairs in the Ministry, Grema Ali, said the returnees were repatriated to Nigeria through a voluntary program.
“The program was meant for the distressed Nigerians who had left the country to search for greener pastures across European countries and Africa but could not afford to return when their journey became frustrating,” he said.
The returnees comprised 125 males,14 females, and 11 children.
“The returnees are from different parts of Nigeria especially Yobe, Kaduna, Bauchi, Sokoto, Katsina, and Kano states, among others,” she said.
She explained that the returnees would undergo a three-day training on how to achieve self-sustainability and would be provided with seed capital to enable them to engage in productive ventures to be self-reliant.
She advised the general public to avoid endangering their lives by traveling to seek greener pastures in other countries, adding that no country was better than their country of origin.
Umar-Farouq enjoined them to learn from their experiences, be law-abiding citizens, and avoid illegal migration.
One of the returnees, Amina Aliyu from Kano State, while recounting their ordeals, said she traveled to Niger with her three kids and sister, Zara’u Aliyu, to seek greener pastures.
“We intended to travel to Algeria but on our way, the driver dropped us in Niger Republic; we suffered, no food no water,” she said.
”My husband ran away and left me with my kids for the past three years and my parents are old and poor so I had no option than to travel to seek greener pasture.”
“Before I left Nigeria, I was selling rice and beans.”
Aliyu commended the Federal Government and IOM for the kind gesture.
Aminu Suleiman, another returnee from Yobe State, said he traveled to Libya to seek greener pastures.
“I was a tailor before I left Yobe, I wanted to travel to Europe from Libya to seek greener pastures because I wanted to open a fashion academy in Nigeria.
“My dream of opening a fashion academy has ended because I came back with nothing, I suffered a lot; no accommodation, no food but I thank God I came back alive.”
