162 Nigerians repatriated from Libya

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Nigerian Mission in Tripoli, Libya, on Tuesday successfully repatriated 162 Nigerians that were stranded in Libya.

Mr Kabiru Musa, Charge d’ Affairs of the Nigerian Mission in Libya, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

Also, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday said it had received 162 Nigerian returnees from Libya through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

Acting Coordinator of the Lagos Territorial Office of NEMA, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, said the returnees, who were stranded in Libya, departed Mitiga International Airport, Tripoli, aboard a chartered Buraq Aircraft at 10.00 p.m. local time and arrived Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Wednesday, at 2:10 a.m.

“The returnees were brought back to the country by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) through voluntary repatriation programme for the distressed persons.

“They had left the country to seek for greener pasture in various European countries but could not afford to return when their journey became frustrated.

“The International Organisation for Migration since 2017 had assisted to bring about 21,000 distressed Nigerians back to the country,” Farinloye said.

He said the returnees were 98 adult females, 28 adult males, 19 female children and five male children, nine female infants and three male infants. Farinloye said five of the returnees had various health-related issues.

He said the Port Health Unit of the Federal of Ministry of Health, National Commission for Resilience, Migration and IDPs and the Nigerian Immigration Services were part of the government agencies who received the returnees at the airport.