February 24, (THEWILL) – No fewer than 150 stranded Nigerians returned to the country on Wednesday.
The returnees were received by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other government agencies.
The Director General of the Agency, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, while receiving the Voluntary Returnees on arrival admonished them to adopt positive attitude towards life challenges.
The returnees, who were assisted back to Nigeria arrived on Wednesday through the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Ikeja, aboard Al Buraq Air with registration number 5A-DMG at about 1910 hours.
The profile of the returnees indicated that the adult females were 80, 4 female children (1) infant, while the adult males were 67, 6 male children (1) infant, totalling 159.
The Director General, who was represented by the Lagos Territorial Office Coordinator, Ibrahim Farinloye, stated that “It is normal in life to struggle for better and improved livelihoods, but in the struggle we must avoid endangering our lives.
“I wish to state that there is no where in the world that its citizens will not have to strive in attaining good life within the limited resources available in that country.
“Nigeria is well endowed far more than most countries that young Nigerians are travelling to seeking greener pastures that are no longer there.
What we need to do is for all of us to look inward and avail ourselves of the countless opportunities in Nigeria.”
He added that the present Government has been providing enabling environment for Nigerians to thrive and will continue to cooperate with development partners in creating level playing grounds for all Nigerians in the country.
The Director General therefore, advised the returnees to be advocates against irregular migration to other youths who may think there are greener pasture elsewhere.
Other organisations that joined NEMA to receive the returnees included: Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Commission for Refugees (NCFR), Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Nigeria Police Force.
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
