No fewer than 103 Nigerians deported from the Republic of Turkey arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, yesterday.
The deportees were flown back to Nigeria on a Southwind Airlines flight, TCGRB, which landed around 7 p.m. at the pilgrims wing of the airport. They were received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
NEMA Director General, Zubaida Umar, urged the deportees to accept their experience in good faith and to be law-abiding. Represented by the Director of the North Central Zone, Bashir Idris Garga, Umar assured the returnees that they were received with dignity and informed them of a token of financial support to aid their transportation to their various destinations.
Other stakeholders present included officials from the Nigerian Immigration Service, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Police, and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
Upon arrival, the deportees were screened by the Port Health Authority, fed, and profiled by NEMA and NCFRMI. They were also cleared by the Nigerian Immigration Service before receiving transportation support from NEMA.
Some of the deportees expressed bitterness over their deportation but appreciated the Federal Government for the reception.
