In a renewed demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of Nigerians abroad, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Monday, April 29, received 203 stranded Nigerian returnees repatriated from Libya. The evacuees arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos aboard an Al Buraq Airline chartered flight, which landed at exactly 3:35 pm.
The returnees—consisting of 50 adult men, 96 adult women, 29 children, and 28 infants—were brought back to the country through a voluntary repatriation initiative coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with NEMA and other relevant agencies. This initiative targets Nigerians who were stranded in various Libyan detention camps or in precarious conditions, often while seeking greener pastures in Europe through irregular migration routes.
Speaking during the reception, the Lagos Territorial Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, noted that the operation was part of ongoing efforts to protect and rehabilitate vulnerable Nigerians abroad. He revealed that two of the returnees were identified as medical cases and were immediately conveyed to a medical facility for urgent attention. The remaining returnees were transported to the Igando IDP Camp for temporary shelter, psychosocial support, and onward reintegration into society.
Mr. Farinloye acknowledged the continued support of the IOM and other international partners for their consistent humanitarian interventions. “This exercise is not just about returning our citizens home,” he emphasized. “It’s about giving them a second chance at life, to reintegrate and become productive members of their communities.”
This latest batch brings the total number of Nigerians repatriated from Libya in the past few years to several thousands, underscoring the persistent danger many face when attempting the treacherous journey across the Sahara and the Mediterranean Sea. Many of the returnees shared harrowing tales of hardship, exploitation, detention, and abuse, highlighting the urgent need for more aggressive awareness campaigns about the risks of irregular migration.
NEMA and its partners have assured the public of their continued readiness to receive and support returnees, with vocational training, basic support services, and community reintegration packages being arranged as part of the post-return process.
The agency also urged families and communities to embrace the returnees and assist them in rebuilding their lives, rather than stigmatizing them for their past decisions.
As Nigeria continues to tackle the root causes of irregular migration—including unemployment, insecurity, and lack of opportunity—interventions like this remain a vital lifeline for citizens caught in the web of desperation and deception abroad.