At least 625 deported Nigerians returned to the country through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja.

Spokesman of the Nigeria Immigration Service, SUNDAY JAMES, who disclosed this in a statement added that 24 other Nigerians were repatriated for various criminal and immigration-related offences abroad.

According to him, 12 foreign nationals who failed to comply with Nigerian entry requirements were refused admission and returned.

He noted that the year witnessed a global pandemic – COVID-19 – which prompted various countries to enforce mandatory lockdown and border closure before their eventual relaxation within the year.

The NIS spokesman stated that Nigeria had its fair share of the COVID-19 experience and the Service, as the lead agency in charge of migration control and border management at the airport in Abuja, stepped up personnel protection to insulate them from contracting the disease.