The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 139 Nigerian migrants who returned from Agadez, Niger Republic, in a coordinated operation at the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on Tuesday evening.
The returnees, who arrived at approximately 7:57 p.m. aboard a Sky Mali flight, comprised 22 adult males, 52 adult females, 33 male children, and 32 female children. They were received by officials from NEMA’s Kano Operations Office, alongside representatives from other relevant agencies.
Speaking at the airport, a NEMA official reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to the safe and dignified return of Nigerian citizens.
“Today’s exercise is part of our ongoing efforts to support compatriots who find themselves stranded abroad,” the official, who wants anonymity, stated.
Following documentation at the airport, the returnees were transported to Badala Hotel for temporary accommodation, where profiling and further support activities were conducted the following day.
Expressing her relief upon arrival, Amina Lawal, one of the returnees, said, “We are grateful to be back home safely. The journey was difficult, but we thank the Nigerian government and NEMA for the warm reception.”
NEMA officials described the reception exercise as “well-coordinated and successfully conducted,” and reiterated the agency’s commitment to the welfare and reintegration of returnees.
“We will continue to work with our partners to provide the necessary support for these returnees as they settle back into their communities,” the official added.
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Porous Borders and Migration Challenges
Nigeria’s northern borders with the Niger Republic remain notoriously porous, facilitating frequent and largely unregulated cross-border movement. The country shares hundreds of border points with neighboring nations: from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, and Sokoto states bordering Benin Republic; to Cross River, Benue, Taraba, Adamawa, and Borno states bordering Cameroon; and Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto, Kebbi, and Borno states sharing borders with Niger, as well as Borno bordering Chad.
In 2022, a former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lucky Irabor, revealed that northern Nigeria alone had 137 unprotected borders out of the 261 approved by the Federal Government.
“There are about 364 approved international border points in Nigeria, with about 261 in the North-East and North-West regions. Out of this, only 124 are manned, leaving the remaining 137 unmanned by security agencies,” Irabor said.
During a media briefing at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja in June 2025, the current CDS, Christopher Musa, called for the fencing of the nation’s borders to curb insecurity and other crimes.
However, many Nigerians view border fencing as a white elephant project, especially for a nation grappling with revenue deficits, high debts, and widespread corruption.
As NEMA continues its efforts to support returning migrants, the challenge of securing Nigeria’s borders remains a pressing issue for authorities and communities alike.
