NEMA Receives 100 Returnees From Algeria, Begins Rehabilitation

By Ayodele Oni

One hundred Nigerian returnees from Algeria have arrived Nigeria as part of the ongoing Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programme of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

In a statement on Wednesday, the NEMA said the returnees were received by its Lagos Operations Office in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

According to NEMA, the returnees arrived at about 2:40 p.m. on March 25, 2026, at the cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport aboard an Air Algerie flight.

The agency disclosed that the group comprised 96 adults; 77 males and 19 females, as well as four infants.

Upon arrival, officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) conducted biometric registration and documentation of the returnees to ensure proper profiling and facilitate their reintegration into society.

NEMA stated that the returnees were immediately provided with humanitarian support in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring a safe and dignified return process.

The assistance, it said, included “food and portable water to address their immediate nutritional needs, medical care and ambulance services for those with health concerns, luggage handling and logistics support, as well as general coordination and counselling services to ensure a seamless and organised reception process.”

The agency reiterated its commitment, alongside relevant partners, to continue supporting the reintegration of returnees through coordinated humanitarian interventions.