No fewer than 1,429 Nigerians were repatriated from Niger Republic in May 2026, according to the latest Quarterly Mixed Migration Update for West Africa released by the Mixed Migration Centre (MMC).
The report said the returnees arrived in two batches. More than 1,100 Nigerians were brought back by road on May 22, while another 329 returnees were received from Agadez, a major migration hub in northern Niger, two days later.
The Geneva-based MMC, which is affiliated with the Danish Refugee Council, said the development highlights the continued presence of stranded migrants in Niger, many of whom remain in International Organization for Migration (IOM) shelters or urban areas with limited resources.
Niger Republic remains a major transit route for West Africans attempting to reach Europe through Libya and Algeria. Agadez, located in northern Niger, has long served as a key departure point for migrants crossing the Sahara Desert into North Africa before making the dangerous journey across the Mediterranean.
The report showed that Nigerians continue to feature among migrants using the Central Mediterranean route, with 163 Nigerians arriving in Italy through the corridor as of May 2026, although this was lower than the 196 recorded during the same period in 2025.
It also revealed that at least 14,602 people were expelled from Algeria into Niger between January and mid-May 2026. While the deportations officially targeted Nigerien nationals, the report noted that migrants from Nigeria, Mali, Guinea, Sudan and Chad were also affected.
According to the report, some migrants expelled into Niger were later pushed back into Algeria by Nigerien authorities, leaving many trapped in repeated cycles of displacement along the border.
The MMC further noted that although irregular arrivals into Spain fell by 33 percent in the first half of 2026, the decline does not necessarily indicate fewer migration attempts, as deaths and disappearances along the route remained significant.
The report attributed Niger’s continued importance as a migration corridor to its visa-free access for Nigerians under the ECOWAS free movement protocol, making the country both a legitimate travel destination and a common gateway for those seeking to reach North Africa and Europe through irregular routes.
