147 stranded Nigerians repatriated from Libya

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received 147 stranded Nigerians who were repatriated from Libya under the Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) programme, supported by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Federal Government.

In a statement posted on Wednesday via X, NEMA said the returnees arrived at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, aboard an Air Libya flight with registration number 5A-BAE at about 5:15 p.m. on October 21, 2025.

The operation was coordinated by NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI).

According to the agency, the returnees included 100 adults (32 males and 68 females), 34 children (18 males and 16 females), and 13 infants (5 males and 8 females).

Officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service were present to conduct biometric registration and documentation to ensure proper identification and reintegration.

NEMA noted that, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the safe and dignified return of its citizens, the returnees were provided with food, clean water, medical care, ambulance services, counselling, and other logistical support to aid their transition back home.

“The entire reception process was well-coordinated, efficient, and focused on the welfare and dignity of all returnees,” the statement added.

This latest arrival is part of Nigeria’s broader reintegration efforts through the IOM’s Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration (AVRR) programme, which helps stranded migrants return home safely.

Earlier, on October 19, 2025, the IOM disclosed that 4,760 stranded Nigerians were repatriated in 2024 through the AVRR initiative.

According to its 2024 Annual Report, the returnees included 2,435 men and 2,324 women, many of whom had faced economic hardship, social stigma, and psychological distress.

The report identified Libya, Niger, Chad, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire as the main countries of transit and return, with 1,101 of the repatriated individuals classified as victims of trafficking — mostly from Edo, Delta, Ogun, Imo, and Lagos States.