The Federal Government has received 180 Nigerians who returned from Sebha, Libya, under an Assisted Voluntary Return programme coordinated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in partnership with the Nigerian government.
The returnees arrived at the Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos State, at about 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday aboard an Air Buraq Airlines aircraft with registration number 5A-BAE.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) disclosed this in a statement issued on Tuesday and shared on its official X account on Wednesday.
According to the agency, its Lagos Operations Office coordinated the reception in collaboration with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
The 180 returnees comprised 143 adults, 26 children and 11 infants.
The adults included 75 males and 68 females, while the children comprised 12 boys and 14 girls. The infants included three males and eight females.
Returnees Receive Humanitarian Assistance
NEMA said the returnees underwent immigration documentation and received immediate humanitarian assistance upon arrival, as relevant agencies began arrangements to support their reintegration into their respective communities.
Officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service conducted biometric registration and documentation to establish the identities of the returnees, maintain accurate records and facilitate subsequent reintegration processes.
“Upon arrival, officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service conducted biometric registration and documentation to establish the identities of the returnees, maintain accurate records and facilitate subsequent reintegration processes,” the statement said.
The agency added that the returnees received food, potable water and medical screening as part of the immediate assistance provided at the airport.
Ambulance services were also made available for individuals who required further medical attention.
Other support included luggage handling, logistical assistance, reception coordination and counselling.
NEMA said the intervention was designed to address the returnees’ immediate needs and ensure that their arrival was managed in an organised manner.
“Reintegration support was also provided to facilitate their return to their respective communities,” the agency added.
It noted that the exercise involved collaboration among government institutions and international partners to ensure that the Nigerians were received safely and treated with dignity.
IOM Programme Supports Voluntary Return
The Assisted Voluntary Return programme, coordinated by the IOM, supports migrants who wish to return to their countries of origin.
Depending on individual circumstances and the assistance available, the programme may cover travel arrangements, reception support and reintegration assistance following arrival.
The Nigerian government’s participation in the initiative is intended to facilitate the safe return of citizens and provide support as they resume their lives in their home communities.
However, NEMA’s statement did not specify the circumstances that led the 180 Nigerians to leave Libya, how long they had stayed there or the individual reintegration packages available to them.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to working with relevant institutions and international partners to ensure the safe and dignified return of Nigerians and provide assistance following their arrival.
The latest return follows other government-supported efforts to bring Nigerians home from countries where their safety or living conditions have raised concerns.
In June, a first batch of 262 Nigerians, accompanied by three government officials, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos from South Africa aboard a chartered Air Peace flight funded by the Federal Government.
Their return followed concerns over the safety of Nigerians amid anti-immigration protests and reported attacks on foreign nationals in the country.
