On Monday, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) received a batch of 144 stranded Nigerians from Niamey in Niger Republic.

Nuradeen Abdullahi, the NEMA coordinator in Kano, received the returnees at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.

Mr Abdullahi said the returnees arrived at the airport at about 2:30 p.m.

“The returnees were transported into Nigeria by SKY MALI Airlines, operated by Ethiopian airline B737-400 with registration number UR-CQX,” stated Mr Abdullahi.

He explained that the returnees were evacuated under the care of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) from Niamey through a voluntary repatriation programme.

“The programme is for the distressed, who had left the country to seek greener pastures in various European countries and could not afford to return when their journey became frustrated,” stated the NEMA coordinator in Kano.

He also mentioned that the evacuated included 106 male adults, 16 female adults and 22 children (10 female and 12 male).

Mr Abdullahi noted that the returnees are from Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Abia, Sokoto, and Edo.

He said the returnees would undergo training in various skills.

“My advice to Nigerians is that they avoid endangering their lives by travelling to seek greener pastures in other countries, adding that no country is better than Nigeria,” said the NEMA coordinator.

NEMA said it repatriated 300 stranded Nigerians from the Niger Republic between February and March.

Speaking to journalists, one of the returnees, Fatima Muhammad (a widow with two children), said she travelled to Algeria to seek greener pastures while recounting her ordeal.

“I had no one to cater for my children and me. I decided to seek greener pastures. I regret embarking on the ill-fated journey. I thank God we came back safely. Nigeria is far better than where we went in our quest for better lives. We suffered,” stated Ms Muhammad.

(NAN)