The National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) has welcomed 36 Nigerian deportees, including children, from Sweden.
Alhaji Tijani Ahmed, the Federal Commissioner of NCFRMI, mentioned during the profiling of the returnees that typically, deportees are contacted due to overstaying in their host country or expired visas.
He was represented by Amb. Catherine Udida, the Director of Migration Affairs in the Commission, Ahmed stated on Wednesday that the government of Sweden likely reminded the returnees of their irregular status.
He clarified that the Swedish authorities must have given them “two or three trials of opportunities for them to return voluntarily; if they fail, the deportation process will commence as it is distinct from returning voluntarily.”
After profiling the returnees, they will be offered accommodation, dignity kits, and some stipends.
“We have profiled them, identified the vulnerable among them, in addition, we are taking them to a hotel, trying to understand what the real issues are then follow up with referrals.
“Ordinarily, if they had come voluntarily, usually there is livelihood support scheme that is provided, so you go for training and you’re given some stipends for start-ups.
”Because they were deported the onus is on us the government to make their lives as comfortable as possible,” Ahmed added.
He mentioned that at times, the government might detain the returnees for up to a year, emphasizing that whether they were deported or not, the Commission would ensure they receive proper care.
He, therefore, reassured the returnees that regardless of the circumstances that led to their return, “Nigeria is their country and there are a lot of opportunities for them to utilize.”
Mr. Roland Nwoha, the Country Director for International Returns and Reintegration Assistance (IRARA), clarified that the returnees were Nigerians facing immigration issues who were instructed to leave Sweden.
Nwoha explained that various countries have distinct laws, noting that while some countries expect the renewal of legal documents before expiry, some migrants may be unaware of such requirements.
“But what they don’t understand is that you don’t wait until your documents expire before you renew it.”
“And for us at IRARA is to support these Nigerians, help them get a safe landing. It’s likely many of them were brought back from detention centers, some were picked up from the streets.”
“We imagine that coming back will be difficult, so what we are doing is to provide them with arrival assistance, cash support, toiletries, and a place to pass the night before they travel to their final destinations.”
“Most importantly, we want to set up an income-generating activity to welcome them back in a dignified way,” Nwoha said.
He mentioned that each of the returnees, including the children, received N158,000.
One of the deported individuals mentioned that he was undergoing medical treatment in a hospital before facing deportation.
“I thought they were taking me to another hospital before I knew I found myself in Abuja although I was also in Sweden to seek asylum.”
Another individual returning mentioned that she was married to a Swede and was in the process of legalizing her documents before authorities picked her up from her residence.
” I’m not even well and I don’t have any relation here in Nigeria, all my family members are in UK,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the returnees were seven families.