In collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), the federal government 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.

Ms Umar-Farouq said the returnees arrived at the airport at about 3:45 p.m. They were transported to Nigeria by SKY MALI Airlines, operated by the Ethiopian aviation industry.

She said the returnees were repatriated to Nigeria through a voluntary programme.

“The programme 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 frustrated,” the minister explained.

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 added.

Ms Umar-Farouq explained that the returnees would undergo a three-day training on achieving self-sustainability and would be provided with seed capital to enable them to engage in productive ventures to be self-reliant.

The minister advised Nigerians to avoid endangering their lives by travelling to seek greener pastures in other countries, claiming no country is better than their homeland.

“We intended to travel to Algeria, but on our way, the driver dropped us in the Niger Republic. We really suffered, with no food and no water. 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 but to travel to seek greener pastures,” said Amina Aliyu from Kano, who travelled with her three kids and a sister, Zara’u Aliyu. “Before I left Nigeria, I was selling rice and beans.”

Aminu Suleiman, another returnee, a Yobe indigene, said he travelled 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,” stated Mr Suleiman. I suffered a lot; no accommodation, no food, but I thank God I came back alive.”

(NAN)