80 Deported Nigerians From Saudi Arabia Arrive Abuja

The first batch of 80 Nigerians repatriated from Saudi Arabia arrived yesterday at the Nnamid Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deportees arrived in the country on board an Ethiopian Airline plane about noon.

Mr Daniel Obot, the Assistant Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), told reporters at the airport that the deportees were among 508 Nigerians residing illegally in Saudi Arabia.

He said the Federal Government approved their repatriation after they voluntarily agreed to return home, adding that they would be handed over to officials of their state emergency management agencies after due clearance.

Also, the Director of Consular and Immigration Services in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Abdulazeez Dan-Kano, tolf reporters that the 80 deportees were from eight states across Nigeria.

Dan-Kano said 31 of them were from Kano State, 19 from Borno, three from Bauchi and eight from Jigawa.

He said seven others were from Yobe, two from Plateau, nine from Katsina and one from Nasarawa.

The director explained that those deported were mainly women, children and the sick.

He said more deportees were expected to arrive in the country today