A returnee migrant and humanitarian activist, Austin Amunega—known as Fahad Nasir—has transformed a story of survival into a nationwide movement dedicated to dignity, inclusion, and empowerment. After surviving multiple failed attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea due to boat capsizing, harsh weather, discrimination, and the dangers faced by migrants, he returned home with a renewed mission: to build solutions that restore hope.
Amunega is now the founder of Relief Cleaning Initiatives, Nigeria’s first NGO-powered laundry and cleaning service designed specifically to support persons with disabilities and homeless individuals. The initiative provides free laundry services, access to hygiene products, job opportunities for homeless individuals, and premium cleaning services for paying customers under a community-driven “pay-it-forward” model.
He describes the project as a response to the deep struggles he witnessed among returnee migrants, people living with disabilities, and the homeless—groups often overlooked in discussions about dignity and basic needs.
“I know what it feels like to lack support, to be invisible, to be without a home. Clean clothes and hygiene are not luxuries; they are dignity,” he said.
A First-of-Its-Kind Model in Nigeria
Relief Cleaning Initiatives offers a wide range of services including:
Washing, folding, ironing & stain removal, Dry cleaning & industrial cleaning, Fumigation services (indoor & outdoor), 24/7 mobile laundry services for persons with disabilities, Free pickup and delivery
While the general public enjoys premium services, every paid service helps subsidize free laundry and hygiene products for persons with disabilities. The NGO also integrates homeless people into its workforce—providing employment, training, coaching, and pathways to financial independence.
Products provided to beneficiaries include oral care kits, body and skin care items, feminine hygiene essentials, grooming tools, sanitizers, wipes, towels, and more. Amunega is also calling on hygiene product manufacturers and distributors for partnerships to expand the impact.
Driven by Experience, Purpose, and Social Equity
Amunega’s humanitarian principles were shaped by his experiences with poverty, homelessness, migration, racism, and exclusion. These realities, he says, fuel his determination to provide what most people take for granted: cleanliness, dignity, and opportunity.
Relief Cleaning Initiatives also commits to:
Accessible facilities for persons with disabilities, Tailored training programs, Mentorship and job coaching, Anti-discrimination hiring practices, Sensitization campaigns to reduce stigma, Partnerships with advocacy and development organizations
“Our mission is to create a Lagos and a Nigeria where no one is left behind—where clean spaces and equal opportunities are available to all, regardless of disability, homelessness, religion, culture, race, or nationality,” he stated.
Growing Impact and Community Support
The organization’s impact is already evident.
Salisu, a visually impaired beneficiary from Jigawa State, shared his testimony: “I am unable to work because of my disability. Relief Cleaning Initiatives gave me hygiene support and personal services I never had access to. Their help restored my happiness and dignity. I want more people to know about them.”
Relief Cleaning Initiatives continues to appeal to citizens, the government, and corporate organizations to embrace social responsibility by supporting, volunteering, or donating hygiene products.
Amunega envisions expanding across Africa and the world as a leading international NGO that provides universal access to hygiene, employment, and dignified services.
“Together, we can build a community where giving and receiving creates a cleaner, kinder, and more inclusive society for all.”
You can follow Relief Cleaning Initiatives via all social media or contact them on call or WhatsApp through this number, +234 704 383 3961
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