A total of 103 Nigerians deported from the Republic of Turkiye back home to Nigeria were received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other Stakeholders as they arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja on Friday 28th June 2024.
A Southwind Airlines flight TCGRB that conveyed the deportees from Turkiye to Nigeria, touched down in Abuja at about 7 pm and taxied to the pilgrims wing of the airport where they were received by the Federal Government officials led by NEMA.
Addressing the returnees, the Director General NEMA Mrs Zubaida Umar admonished them to accept their experience in good faith and be law-abiding. The DG NEMA who was represented by the Director of North Central Zone Alhaji Bashir Idris Garga said the returnees were received with dignity to assuage their experience and assure the concerns of the Federal Government over their plights. She informed them that a token of financial support had been provided to assist in their transportation to their various locations.
Other stakeholders that joined to receive the deportees were officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service, National Commission for Refugees Migrant and Internally Displaced Persons, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Federal Airport Authority of Nigerian, Nigerian Police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, and NDLEA. Others were officials of the Port Health Authority and the National Intelligence Agency.
After being screened by officials of the Port Health Authority on arrival the deportees were fed and profiled by NEMA and NCFRMI. They were also cleared by the Nigerian Immigration Service before being handed the transportation support provided by NEMA to go home.
Some of the deportees who spoke experienced bitterness over their deportation but appreciated the Federal Government for the reception.
