The Federal Government (FG) has successfully evacuated 1,230 stranded Nigerians from the Republic of Niger as part of a coordinated humanitarian operation led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday, the ministry said the returnees were brought back in two batches, with 708 Nigerians arriving on March 23, 2026, and another 522 returning on March 29, 2026.
The ministry described the exercise as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the welfare and dignity of its citizens abroad.
According to the statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the evacuation was carried out in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration, whose logistical and technical support ensured the smooth execution of the operation.
The ministry said the partnership reflected Nigeria’s continued engagement with international organisations in addressing migration-related challenges in a humane and orderly manner.
The returnees were received on arrival in Kano by a multi-agency team that included officials of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Nigeria Immigration Service, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Also present at the reception were representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Nigeria Police Force, and the Department of State Services, alongside officials of the Kano and Katsina State governments.
The ministry said the presence of the agencies ensured a well-coordinated reception process and demonstrated the importance of inter-agency collaboration in responding to humanitarian situations.
It added that the evacuees underwent profiling at the airport before being transported to the Immigration Training School in Kano, where they were provided temporary accommodation, meals, sanitary supplies, and basic medical care. The ministry said the returnees were later discharged and reunited with their families after the completion of the necessary procedures.
The ministry noted that the evacuation formed part of the Federal Government’s broader responsibility to safeguard Nigerians wherever they may be and said it would continue to monitor developments in the region while engaging relevant authorities to ensure the safety of Nigerian citizens.
It also expressed appreciation to the government of the Republic of Niger for the cooperation extended during the exercise, saying the collaboration reinforced the longstanding bilateral relations between both countries.
The ministry further commended international partners, particularly the International Organization for Migration and the International Committee of the Red Cross, for their support, and advised Nigerians living abroad to remain law-abiding, stay in contact with Nigerian diplomatic missions, and register with the nearest embassy or consulate to enable timely assistance in emergencies.
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