Over 1,100 Nigerian Migrants Return from Niger Republic

On Friday, over 1,100 Nigerian migrants returned from Agadez, Niger Republic, to Kano, facilitated by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). Anthony Akunem, a personnel from NIS, provided details on the return process, which involved multiple federal and state agencies to ensure a hitch-free and safe reintegration for the returnees.

The migrants arrived at the Kano National Sorting Centre, where they received profiling and psychosocial counseling to support their reintegration into their families and communities. This return follows a pattern of spontaneous returns from Agadez, a city that has served as a primary waypoint for West African migrants attempting to reach Europe.

The Agadez corridor has seen a significant reduction in transit flow due to Niger's enactment of anti-smuggling legislation and the destabilization of security architecture following the coup in July 2023. The International Organization for Migration has been involved in facilitating voluntary humanitarian returns for Nigerians stranded in Niger.