National Emergency Management Agency. Photo: NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has received 37 Nigerian nationals who returned from the Republic of Türkiye through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The agency disclosed this in a statement on Monday, saying the returnees arrived aboard a chartered aircraft following an official notification from the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs as part of ongoing efforts to facilitate the orderly return of Nigerian citizens.

According to the statement, the Abuja Operations Office of the agency activated a coordinated reception mechanism involving relevant government agencies and humanitarian partners to ensure a seamless, dignified and humane reception for the returnees.

It stated that the exercise included documentation, profiling, medical screening and the provision of immediate humanitarian assistance before the returnees were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further reintegration processes.

Speaking during the reception, the Head of NEMA Abuja Operations Office, Pharm. Zakari Abubakar, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting the dignity and welfare of vulnerable persons through inter-agency collaboration.

He said, “At NEMA, our priority is to ensure that every returning Nigerian is treated with dignity, compassion and respect. We encourage our compatriots to embrace this opportunity for a fresh start, remain law-abiding, and take advantage of available government support programmes aimed at facilitating their successful reintegration into society.”

Abubakar also commended the collaboration among participating agencies, noting that coordinated efforts remained critical to ensuring efficient reception and reintegration support for returning migrants.

The statement added that stakeholders involved in the exercise included the Nigerian Immigration Service, the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, officials of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, airport authorities, security agencies and other relevant partners.

The latest reception comes amid continued efforts by the Federal Government, through NEMA and other agencies, to coordinate the safe return and reintegration of distressed Nigerians from different countries.

In June, NEMA received 123 Nigerian returnees from Algeria under the Assisted Voluntary Return programme facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration in collaboration with the Federal Government.

The returnees underwent biometric registration and documentation before receiving humanitarian assistance, including food, water, medical care and logistics support to aid their reintegration.

Similarly, in April, the agency received 181 Nigerian returnees from Tripoli, Libya, under the same Assisted Voluntary Return programme.

NEMA said the exercise, carried out in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons and other stakeholders, formed part of the Federal Government’s efforts to ensure the safe, orderly and dignified return of Nigerians stranded abroad while facilitating their reintegration into society.