NEMA Receives Over 200 Stranded Nigerians from Libya
Written by Olakunle Oke on April 29, 2025
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), through its Lagos Operations Office, in partnership with key humanitarian and immigration stakeholders, received 203 vulnerable Nigerian returnees from Libya on Monday, April 28, 2025.
The returnees arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at about 7:00 p.m. aboard a chartered Al Buraq Air flight. The group consisted of 50 adult males, 96 adult females, 29 children, and 28 infants—many of whom had endured months, or even years, of hardship while stranded in various parts of Libya.
The evacuation was made possible with the support of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), as part of its ongoing voluntary repatriation programme, which aims to assist irregular migrants to safely return home and begin the process of reintegration into society.
Upon arrival, the returnees underwent comprehensive health screenings and were provided with immediate humanitarian assistance, including food, water, clothing, and temporary shelter. Two individuals, identified as critical medical cases, were quickly transported to New Ikeja Hospital for further treatment and observation.
As part of the reintegration process, the returnees were transported to the Igando Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Resettlement Centre, where they will receive psychosocial support, vocational training opportunities, and assistance in reuniting with their families.
The Lagos Territorial Coordinator for NEMA, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, commended the coordination among agencies such as the Nigerian Immigration Service, Port Health Authority, and National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. He emphasized that the government remains committed to providing protection and support to Nigerians caught up in irregular migration and human trafficking networks.
Mr. Farinloye also used the occasion to warn young Nigerians against embarking on unsafe and illegal journeys across the Sahara Desert and the Mediterranean Sea in search of greener pastures, urging them instead to seek local opportunities and government-backed initiatives aimed at youth empowerment.
