The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday received another 305 Nigerian nationals who voluntarily returned from the Republic of South Africa, bringing the total number of returnees under the Federal Government’s ongoing voluntary repatriation programme to 1,516.
The seventh batch of returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Cargo Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, at about 11:25 a.m. aboard an Air Peace chartered aircraft with registration number 5N-BWI.
On arrival, NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office coordinated the reception and processing of the returnees in collaboration with relevant government agencies. The exercise included documentation, identity verification and health screening to ensure an orderly and seamless reception before the returnees were cleared for onward movement.
The operation involved the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), security agencies and other stakeholders, whose coordinated efforts ensured the successful completion of the exercise.
Following the completion of all arrival formalities, NEMA facilitated the transportation of the returnees to their designated destinations, while security personnel maintained law and order throughout the operation.
The agency said the successful reception of the latest batch reflects the Federal Government’s sustained commitment, in partnership with relevant stakeholders, to ensuring the safe, orderly and dignified return, reception and reintegration of Nigerians voluntarily returning from abroad.
