The Nigerian Government has received thirteen migrants deported from Italy by the EU FRONTEX, Border and Coast Guard Agency.
The reception exercise, which was coordinated by the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), took place at the Cargo terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
Representing the Federal Commissioner Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the Head of Migration Unit, Mr. Alexander Oturu explained that all migrants deserve access to reintegration assistance, regardless of their reasons for being returned.
Mr. Oturu added that the Commission is dedicated to and will continue to provide arrival assistance to all returnees, including deportees, as well as access to sustainable reintegration.
The migrants, who were deported from Italy for immigration offenses, such as overstay of visas and lack of travel documents, were provided with welcome packs containing light refreshments, change of clothes and toiletries by the Commission and onward transportation allowance by the International Returns and Reintegration Assistance, (IRARA) Agency.
Officers from the NCFRMI and the Nigerian Immigration Service profiled the migrants and officers from Port Health, FAAN and DSS were also in attendance to provide assistance.