The UAE deported 400 Nigerians, including 90 females and 310 males, who arrived at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. Nigerian agencies, including NEMA, received the deportees. This follows a similar deportation from Turkiye. The Nigerian government urges calm as it addresses ongoing deportation challenges facing its citizens abroad.
A total of 400 Nigerians have been deported from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including 90 females and 310 males. The deportees were received at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by officials from various Nigerian agencies, including the National Security Adviser’s office, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), among others.
The deportation follows a similar incident in which 103 Nigerians were deported from Turkiye, as well as another case in which 264 Nigerian passengers had their visas canceled upon arrival in Saudi Arabia in 2023.
The UAE deportees arrived on Friday evening via the pilgrims’ wing of the airport, where NEMA and other federal officials coordinated their reception. The Nigerian government has urged calm and reassured the public that steps are being taken to address the situation. This event adds to ongoing challenges faced by Nigerian nationals abroad, highlighting the government's efforts to manage deportations and assist affected citizens.
Public reaction to the mass deportations has been mixed, with concerns raised about the treatment of Nigerians abroad and the role of Nigerian authorities in preventing such incidents in the future. The Nigerian government continues to work with international partners to address immigration and deportation issues affecting its citizens.