The commitment was made during a visit by a 14-member Turkish delegation led by Hünkar İbin, Head of the Department of Removal Affairs, to the Chairman/CEO of NiDCOM, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on migration management and formalise the arrangement through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Turkish delegation said consultations were ongoing with relevant Nigerian institutions, including the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment and the CLEEN Foundation ahead of the MoU.
İbin said undocumented Nigerians apprehended in Türkiye were held pending arrangements for their return, but stressed that voluntary return remains the preferred option under Türkiye’s National Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (NAVRR) Mechanism.
Under the scheme, returnees receive counselling and support tailored to their reintegration needs, he said.
“The mechanism is open to foreigners with deportation decisions, those under administrative detention, victims of human trafficking, international protection applicants and status holders,” he said.
İbin said about 2,600 Nigerians were among the estimated 350,000 international students in Türkiye and expressed hope that legal migration opportunities would expand.
He said engagement with Nigerian authorities was aimed at promoting orderly migration while creating pathways for voluntary return and reintegration.
Responding, Dabiri-Erewa pledged NiDCOM’s support and said the commission would sensitise undocumented Nigerians in Türkiye to the programme.
She noted that Türkiye was the first country to sign a bilateral diaspora MoU with Nigeria, describing the relationship as a strong foundation for deeper cooperation.
“NiDCOM will serve as a bridge to ensure that commitments made to Nigerians under the programme are fulfilled,” she said.
Dabiri-Erewa reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to discouraging irregular migration, noting that migration regulations were becoming increasingly stringent worldwide.
She also highlighted the contributions of Nigerians in Türkiye, particularly in business, medicine and sports.
According to her, NiDCOM will work with NCFRMI and other stakeholders to educate Nigerians on available reintegration opportunities and the risks of irregular migration.
“Migration is to leave and seek a better life. But if it is not working, come back home,” she said.
Both sides expressed commitment to ensuring the welfare and dignity of Nigerians in Türkiye and implementing the outcomes of the meeting. (NAN
