Federal government repatriates stranded Nigerians from Côte d’Ivoire

The Federal Government has received another batch of Nigerian returnees from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, under its voluntary repatriation programme for citizens stranded abroad.

The returnees arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on Tuesday aboard Air Côte d’Ivoire Flight HF 806 at about 7:10 pm.

In a statement, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said officials of its Abuja operations office, led by Zakari Abubakar, head of operations, coordinated the registration and profiling of the returnees.

The agency said the exercise was carried out in collaboration with relevant government agencies to facilitate their orderly reception and provide immediate humanitarian assistance.

NEMA said the reception was led by the minister of state for foreign affairs alongside officials of the ministry of foreign affairs, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Port Health Services, and other stakeholders.

According to the agency, the officials conducted identity verification, health screening, documentation and other reception procedures to support the returnees’ reintegration.

NEMA said the operation reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe, dignified and humane return of Nigerians stranded abroad while providing the necessary support services to aid their reintegration into society.