ABUJA, Nigeria — The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 123 Nigerian returnees from Algeria under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme, providing humanitarian aid and support for their reintegration into society, the agency has confirmed.
The returnees arrived in Nigeria on Wednesday through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where they were received by officials of NEMA and other government agencies. According to the agency, the repatriation was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Nigerian government.
NEMA officials disclosed that the returnees, who had been stranded in Algeria for various reasons, were provided with immediate assistance, including food, medical care, and transportation to their various destinations across the country. The agency also offered psychosocial support to help them readjust to life in Nigeria.
The Assisted Voluntary Return Programme is designed to support migrants who wish to return to their home countries but lack the resources to do so. The programme provides logistical support, reintegration assistance, and counseling to ensure that returnees can rebuild their lives in a dignified manner.
The federal government has reiterated its commitment to protecting the welfare of Nigerians abroad and ensuring that those who wish to return home are provided with the necessary support. The government has also urged Nigerians to seek legitimate means of migration and to avoid irregular migration, which often exposes them to exploitation and danger.
The 123 returnees bring the total number of Nigerians repatriated from various countries under the Assisted Voluntary Return Programme to several thousand in recent years. The government has continued to collaborate with international partners to address the challenges of irregular migration and to provide support to affected Nigerians.
NEMA has assured that the returnees will be monitored to ensure their successful reintegration into society and that necessary support will be provided to help them become self-reliant. The agency also urged the public to support returnees in their communities and to avoid stigmatising them.
The federal government has called on Nigerians to take advantage of the various opportunities available in the country and to avoid the risks associated with irregular migration. The government has also pledged to continue working with international partners to address the root causes of irregular migration and to protect the rights of all Nigerians, both at home and abroad.
